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Truck driver Rod Hannifey says millions of dollars are being spent on "whizzbang technology" to fine drivers instead of making the roads safer for them to drive on.
- Smart sensors will be built on the Golden Highway to fine truck drivers for roadworthiness violations
- Truck driver and safety advocate Rod Hannifey says the $7 million for the project should be spent on fixing roads
- He says reflector bays and truck stops are being torn up along the Newell Highway and not replaced
Transport for NSW has announced a $7 million heavy vehicle checking station for the Golden Highway between Dunedoo and Dubbo.
Mr Hannifey said the money would be better spent on repairing safety hazards and replacing demolished rest stops.
"The roads are buggered; it's as simple as that," Mr Hannifey said.
"They knock you off because your shock absorbers are leaking or because something's broken, but the reason it's broken is because of the roads."
The National Road Freighters Association president has campaigned for more truck rest stops across the road network, including along the Newell Highway where they were demolished to make way for new overtaking lanes during road upgrades.
Mr Hannifey said he had safety concerns about a recently upgraded 40-kilometre stretch of the Newell Highway from Boggabilla, which had gone from 27 informal truck rest stops to six.
He also criticised the demolition of green reflector bays, which mark out informal rest stops.
MLC Mark Banasiak said the government was prioritising a $7 million revenue-raising project instead of repairing safety infrastructure.
"We need more rest bays. We shouldn't be ripping them up because these are what truly save lives," Mr Banasiak said.
"The government needs to make a genuine attempt to consult with the industry, more than just listening to them and going away to do the opposite."
There are currently nine heavy vehicle safety stations in NSW.
The new $7 million heavy vehicle station, jointly funded by the state and federal government, is due to be built in August.
It features a crewed Intelligent Transport System that detects overloading, fatigue, and unroadworthy trucks.
A Transport for NSW spokesperson said they were planning to replace two green reflector sites that had been demolished to make way for new overtaking lanes on the Newell Highway.
The spokesperson said new rest stops were also being planned in consultation with truck drivers.
"A NSW government program is underway to improve heavy vehicle rest stops throughout NSW by developing strategies to ensure gaps across the network are identified and addressed on a priority basis including facilities to meet the needs of drivers," the spokesperson said.
New NSW data this week shows 44 people have been killed in heavy truck crashes in the past 12 months, including nine truck drivers and 20 car drivers.
Mr Hannifey said the truck stops were not the only safety concern.
He said he was especially worried about the state of the Cainbil Creek bridge on the Golden Highway about 120 kilometres east of Dubbo, which he said "could kill someone" if it was not repaired soon.
Mr Hannifey said poor road infrastructure wore down trucks, added to drivers' mental fatigue, and increased the chance of a fatal crash.
He said a truck crash could end lives and permanently scar the survivors.
"The poor truck driver who went to work that day to feed his family, he might see that in his nightmares every night for the rest of his life," Mr Hannifey said.
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