Proposals for achieving our aims.

 

• PROPOSALS IDENTIFIED FOR IMPLEMENTATION SHORT TERM

(a) Restricting the flow of through heavy truck traffic.

(b) Night time and weekend curfews.

(c) Identifying appropriate routes for tanker traffic.

(d) Speed control measures.

(e) Introducing concessions (tolls) for the freight industry.

(f) Prosecution for the use of air brakes (Jake Brakes) in residential areas.

(g) Minimal impact to the local commercial and truck traffic transport industries, minimal cost of implementation, ease of implementation and policing.

(h) Determining what influences truck drivers to decide on which route to take.

(i) Social responsibilities

• IMPLEMENTATION OF EACH PROPOSAL

(a) Restrict the flow of through heavy truck traffic
Restrictions by the means of signs at specified locations, heavy traffic entering to the relative routes that run through the residential area. This situation will affect vehicles over 6 tonne gross capacity, unless serving industries in the designated local area-
The sign should display as follows:- (Example)
6 TONNE GROSS CAPACITY LIMIT – LOCAL TRAFFIC EXEMPT
Signage should be placed prior to entering the relative routes and at various points along affected routes.
Boundaries and affected routes as per following Map:

click here for a larger map (note this is1.1MB)

(b) Night time and weekend curfew
Hours of night/weekend curfew as follows:-
MON-FRI 8.00pm to 6.00am
SAT 1.00pm TO MON 6.00am
Signage placed prior to entering the relative roads and at various points indicating hours of curfew.

(c) Identifying Appropriate Routes for Tanker Traffic
(i) Tanker traffic out of Mobil and associated bulk fuel outlets heading West or South West to use Hyde/Francis/Williamstown Roads to Westgate Freeway.
(ii) Tanker traffic out of Mobil and associated bulk fuel outlets heading North or
East to use Hyde/Whitehall/Footscray Roads to Citylink or Westgate Freeway
(iii) The same procedure but in reverse for tanker traffic heading to Mobil and
associated bulk fuel outlets from the West and South West – Westgate/ Freeway/ Williamstown Rd/Francis/Hyde Street.
(iv) Traffic heading from North and East to Mobil and associated bulk fuel outlets
to use Footscray/Whitehall/Hyde Street.
NOTE: During night/weekend curfew hours all tanker traffic to use Footscray/
Whitehall/Hyde Street.

(d) Speed Control Measures
- speed cameras to be assigned to routes of effected area
- increased police presence
- dramatic increase of T.O.G. for policy of speed and random safety checks
replace the inadequate signage that already exists with visible signs:-
e.g. white lettering picture attached red background- the enforcement of EPA regulations
e.g. air bakes/noisy exhausts/noisy motors/unroadworthiness

(e) Introducing Toll Concessions for the Freight Industry
Due to the congestion of the inner city roads and future increases in transport movements a freight concession can be justified by the way of:-
(i) reduced impact to the road networks
(ii) reduced diesel emissions achieved by less stop, start movements
(iii) more efficient movement of goods

(f) Prosecution for use of Air Brakes (Jake Brakes) in residential areas
(i) introducing on the spot fines for illegal use of air brakes in residential areas
(ii) educating truck drives of the detrimental effect jacob brakes have on the
immediate areas
(iii) local public awareness program on the same lines as "dob in a polluting car"
thus introducing a "dob in a polluting truck"

(g) Minimal impact to the local commercial and truck transport industries and
Minimal cost of implementation
(i) the proposal aims at doing this by exempting all truck movement that is
delivering in or out of designated local restricted area not including curfew
hours thus not impeding on their day to day business activity.
(ii) policing of this proposal is quite simple
(iii) random checks by VicRoads, TOG and uniformed police initially at
Whitehall Street between Napier Street and Somerville Roads. LMT Australia to regularly monitor area with Speed Camera.
(iv) checks will consist of checking delivery or pick-up documentation, if
destination not in local area enforcement notice will be issued
(v) as quick as speed camera location information is passed amongst truck
drivers so will destination checks be passed just as quick thus making
policing quite simple and inexpensive.

(h) Determining what influences truck drivers to decide on which routes to take

(i) People are creatures of habit, truck drivers are not different, they will use a
route for a variety of reasons
i.e. - Designated truck routes, company directive
- Shortest route
- Avoiding main routes due to traffic congestion
- Quicker route when not due to perception
- Food stops
- Sub contractors paid on hourly rate may take longer routes