National heavy vehicle fatigue reforms - Queensland government allows for transition period

Wednesday 30 July 2008

Members will be aware that new fatigue laws come into effect nationally on 29 September 2008.  In a letter to stakeholders, the executive director of Queensland Transport (QT) announced that QT recognizes that any changes to legislation that affects working arrangements requires adjustment to business practices.  QT do not expect all changes to be adopted overnight and, consequently, from 29 September 2008 Standard Hours operators will have six months to introduce the changes.   For other accreditation options operators will have 12 months to convert their operations.   So that initially QT Inspectors will be taking an education focused program.

Also mentioned in the letter, in an attempt to dispel a myth relating to demerit points, is the fact that QT will not be handing out demerit points or fines for driving 15 minutes over, drivers will need to be in breach of driving times up to an hour before a demerit point or monetary penalty will be considered.   The message also reiterated that the demerit point penalty will only be used where there is a legitimate road safety risk.

 

Queensland will be offering a transition period for the use of log books to work diaries. After 29 September drivers have 90 days to start using the work diaries, but up until this time log books can continue to the used.