The Age editorial/opinion 21/9/09

[This is BNFNG's response to The Age editorial/opinion published on 21 Sep 2009 entitled "Keeping left is the right move for trucks"

BNFNG raised with VicRoads at their meetings earlier this year that the nature of the traffic travelling on Eastlink/M3 since the extension was opened in mid-2008 has changed. The M3 is now a major trucking route and it goes all night long. Whereas previously it carried mainly city bound traffic (workers).

Much of the increased noise on the Bulleen to Doncaster Road section of the freeway can be attributed to large truck freight - from their turbo charged engines, compression brakes, multi wheels and the assault through the air at speed. Their noise is related to speed. The faster they travel, the greater the noise.

BNFNG asked VicRoads to consider a speed reduction for trucks, particularly at night, and restriction on use of air brakes. VicRoads reps responded that it would be too difficult to police and was unlikely to be supported at State level by decision makers. We also pointed out to VicRoads the potential of fatalities for users of the Koonung Creek Reserve as in some areas only a mesh fence protects people from the M3 traffic.

This is not a just an Australian problem. The solution has been found. You can see it in practice all over Europe and the United States. Trucks are limited to the right lane (in our case, the left lane) except for when they are overtaking and then only for a limited time. The speed is restricted to 80 kph for all traffic in the slow lane, 100 kph in all the other lanes. All trucks are limited to 80 kph on the freeway slow lanes. This helps them stop and slow quicker with less effort. It is more fuel efficient. It is safer. IT IS QUIETER. It works there, it will work here.

We need our government to now listen to its people (not just the trucking industry) regarding this noise and safety issue. It needs to be a win-win situation for all.