Council urges truck drivers to consider community safety

Wyndham Civic Centre. (Damjan Janevski) 255196_02

Wyndham council is urging truck drivers of heavy and long vehicles to refrain from parking in residential streets and indented bays along streets.

Council said the trucks, which are often used for freight and commercial services, are a safety risk to residents, put additional pressure on road infrastructure and contribute to air and noise pollution when air brakes are used and when engines are left idling prior to start up.

Wyndham council’s community safety portfolio holder councillor Susan McIntyre said council views community safety seriously, and would continue to patrol hot spot areas.

“We appreciate the truck drivers have a business and a livelihood to maintain but they need to park legally, act responsibly and be considerate of neighbours – heavy and long trucks were not designed to be parked in residential streets,” Cr McIntyre said.

“Heavy and long vehicles can place the safety of residents at risk when they obscure the line of sight of drivers who back out of their driveways into street traffic, they also reduce visibility of children and adults who need to cross the street in front of the stationary trucks.

“The trucks may also damage local road infrastructure due to weight and size. Road safety audits will be undertaken when necessary to consider if signage prohibiting truck parking is required in hot spot areas.

“Drivers should consider ‘park and drive’ options to park their vehicle overnight at heavy and long vehicle, secure parking facilities. Drivers interested in these options should contact council.”

Council said residents can report instances of heavy and long vehicles parked along residential streets via Council’s customer service portal, sending an email, or by calling customer service.

When reporting, council asks to include the location and time the vehicle was parked to assist officers with their investigations.

Details: wyndham.custhelp.com/ or mail@wyndham.vic.gov.au or 1300 023.