Freight

This report summarises the results of a survey of 1513 people across Australia. The survey explores attitudes to heavy vehicles on the road with the aim of identifying key factors influencing views. Interviews were conducted in February 2005. The survey confirms that issues associated with trucks and heavy vehicles are not top of mind road issues for the majority of people in the community. Many other road safety and management issues come before heavy vehicles in their prioritisation of road safety and traffic related issues. Various issues associated with trucks and cars on the road are discussed and a strong message coming through is that people recognise that it is not a one sided story. Although many people are critical of truck drivers, they also recognise that car drivers are not fully aware of the requirements that trucks have to operate safely on the road, and that many people are not confident in their own driving skills around trucks. The report also highlights different attitudes across the States and Territories and among drivers in metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas.