Illegal camping causing rest area congestion has been addressed by amendments recently brought in by Queensland's Department of Transport and Main Roads for rest area use.
Move-on directives and fines of up to $2669 are among the regulations aimed at helping heavy vehicle drivers better meet their legislated rest obligations.
Of the 450 rest areas on state roads, 115 of them are designated for the use of heavy vehicles only while another 50 are combined motorist and heavy vehicle rest areas, where trucks, motorists and caravans can all stop and take a break in designated areas.
The remainder are motorist rest areas, where only cars and caravans can stop.
A TMR spokesman said the changes clarified the rules for rest area use and camping and providing stronger and simpler enforcement powers for TMR, such as the ability to issue move-on directions or fines in cases of illegal camping and congestion.
Livestock and Rural Transporters Association of Queensland president Gerard Johnson said it was an ongoing issue for his members, who found themselves unable to find enough space to stop in some rest areas when their regulated seven-hour rest period was due.
"If you run out of hours and get to a rest area and it's full, you have to go on," he said. "And the further north you go, they get further apart. It will be interesting to see where the truck-only areas are."
Rest areas with toilet and seating facilities close to towns should be among those available for truck drivers, Mr Johnson believed, saying there were similar facilities in towns available for campers that weren't accessible for road trains.
"They have other options," he said, adding that western Queensland councils were also being more proactive in setting aside tourist camping areas along creeks that could take some of the pressure off rest areas.
Mr Johnson said the LRTAQ was always keen to see more hardstand areas built regardless of whether they were state or federally funded.
He also said truck drivers preferred rest areas that were set away from the road rather than the ones right beside highways.
The TMR spokesman said managing driver fatigue was a critical issue for the safety of all road users on the road network.
"Rest areas are provided for the convenience of all motorists to manage fatigue and they need to be used fairly for everyone's safety and amenity," he said.
"They are not a source of accommodation. Congestion and illegal camping at rest areas have been ongoing issues.
"These issues prevent fatigue-regulated heavy vehicle drivers from meeting their legislated rest obligations, so they risk being fined for not resting.
"The Queensland government's approach to enforcement involves education, awareness and formal warnings, with fines issued by the Queensland Police Service and authorised TMR officers as a last resort."
The minimum fine is $266 for an on-the-spot fine, while the maximum fine is $2669.
The Transport Department website says that general and recreational vehicles can stop at a rest area for up to 20 hours unless signed otherwise, but they are not to set up camping sites at them.
An education and awareness campaign started in mid-September after the amended regulations took effect.
"New signs are being rolled out in hot spots - they indicate which rest areas are exclusively for heavy vehicles and the applicable hours of operation for motorists," the TMR spokesman said.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
