Author: John Cassel

Using electronic devices whilst operating vehicles

A reminder to traffic controllers about the new rules coming into force on the 1st of February this year, regarding the use of electronic devices whilst operating a motor vehicle.

From 1st February 2020, the fines in Queensland for the above is a $1000 fine and 4 demerit points. If you commit the same offence within a 12 month period the fine for the second offence will be another $1000, but double demerit points (8 demerit points).

This will mean that even if a person has all of their 12 points, they would lose their licence for committing two of the above offence within 12 months (4 demerit points + 8 demerit points = 12 demerit points).

For more information on the upcoming changes see TMR’s website here.

If you (as the driver of a vehicle) find that you need to use an electronic device for work purposes (e.g. to record signage placement), you should:

  1. Alight the vehicle and stand in a safe location’ prior to using device or,
  2. Ask your passenger to use device.

If these options are not available and you decide to use the device while in the driver’s seat then you must:

  1. Pull over into a safe and legal parking area ‘clear of expected travel paths’,
  2. Put the vehicle into park / in gear with handbrake on etc,
  3. Turn the vehicle off, and,
  4. Take the keys out of the ignition

To ensure there is not a misconception you are using an electronic device whilst operating a vehicle, it is recommended that you exit the vehicle and move to a safe location before using the electronic device. The safe location would preferably be away from the vehicle.

In all situations the operator of the vehicle remains responsible for the safe operation of it and the payment of any fines for failure to follow any Department of Transport and Main Roads QLD (TMR) road rules.

Please note, we are currently seeking clarification from TMR on what may or may not constitute using an electronic device whilst operating a vehicle. More information to follow once the clarifications have been made.

TMR fact sheets

TMR have released a library of fact sheets for works on roads over the last number of years providing information to clarify misunderstandings or fill gaps in the knowledge of industry as a whole.

These fact sheets provide easy to read, relevant information for the traffic management industry in general and for traffic management designers in particular.

Vulnerable road users require special consideration at roadwork sites as changed conditions can seriously affect the ability for these road users to safely navigate through , with a recent release highlighting motorcycles. Previous fact sheets have also focused on pedestrians and cyclists (also considered vulnerable road users).

These fact sheets can be found on the TMR website or by clicking here.

 

TMA, VMS & PTSS Courses Available 2020

Happy New Year made of sparkles firework at night background

AATM & AATC hope that you all had a great Christmas/New Years!

To ring in the new year, AATC are glad to announce we now have course dates available for the:

– TMA – Operate a Truck or Trailer mounted Attenuator,

– VMS – Position, Set-Up and Operate a Variable Message Sign &

– PTSS – Position, Set-up and Operate Portable Traffic Signals courses!

Please see below our upcoming course dates for the TMA, VMS & PTSS courses.

TMA:

  • 15 January 2020

VMS & PTSS Combo course:

  • 16 January 2020

PTSS only course:

  • 17 January 2020

If you have any queries, or would like to enrol into any of these courses, please contact us on either 07 3881 3008 or [email protected]

AATC returning in 2020

Our training centre staff will be back in the office on 6th January 2020 after a well earned break ready for a busy year.

We have recently added to our scope of courses. We now offer the national unit of competency training for TMA, VMS and PTSS in 2020.

AATC are pleased to announce that we have also increased our capacity with a second dedicated training vehicle available to facilitate our TMI practical set-up requirements.

So don’t forget to book into our 2020 courses which can be found here.

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The newly released Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management

Looking for some light reading over Christmas? Than look no further than the Austroads Guide to Temporary Traffic Management (AGTTM).

Austroads released their much anticipated Guide to Temporary Traffic Management in early December 2019.

At present, it is unknown how much of the guide Queensland will adopt as the decision will be made by Transport and Main Roads Queensland (TMR).

TMR have released a statement on the Guide which can be downloaded by clicking here. (Note: this will automatically download the statement in pdf format)

However, this is still a great opportunity to see what may be coming down the pipeline for traffic management in our state.

The 10 parts of the guide can be downloaded for free from the Austroads website here.

The new release of AS1742.3 is expected soon.

Acquired Awareness thanks all our Clients, Customers and Staff

A big thank you to all of our clients and customers for their engagement with us in traffic management this year. We look forward to the coming year and are keen to keep providing the quality services you’ve all come to know from us.
As always, our traffic management arm will be operating 24/7, this includes over this holiday period. So should you be in need of traffic management services, please make sure you contact us on our 24 hour line 3881 3008 and we will be happy to work with you.

Also, a big thank you to all of our staff who have been working hard throughout the year. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.

Finally, congratulations to John Cassel  our compliance manager who was the winner of the Traffic Management Association of Australia (TMAA) QLD branch, golden stop/slow bat award last Thursday (12/12/19). This award is given to the person who has contributed a great deal for positive outcomes to the TMAA, over the course of the year.

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Happy Holidays to all and Happy New Year!

Training Centre closed over the Christmas Period

The traffic management arm of Acquired runs 24/7 and will still be completely operational over the Christmas period.

Please note that our Training Centre (AATC) will not be contactable from C.O.B. Friday 20/12/2019 to Sunday 05/01/2020 inclusive. We will be back in the office from Monday 06/01/2020. You will still be able to email us any enquiries to [email protected], but we will not be able to respond to them until we are back.

With this in mind we’d like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has trained with us this year. We’d also like to wish everyone a safe time over this holiday period.

We look forward to seeing and working with you all in the new decade!

The AATC Team

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New MUTCD Part 3 Release (November 2019)

Transport and Main Roads QLD has recently issued a new version of Part 3 of the MUTCD and its Supplement.

You can view and download the new versions of Part 3 and its Supplement by visiting TMR’s website here.

You can also view a list of the amendments  to these documents via TMR’s website here.

Don’t forget, we have a comprehensive list of the technical documents relevant to the traffic management industry, and links to them, on our post here.

Courses currently available with Acquired Awareness

Wondering what courses Acquired offer?

We offer the full breadth of courses for the traffic management industry.

We are happy to do group bookings, and are able to come to you anywhere across the state*.
This past year alone we have trained in places such as Normanton, Thargomindah, Roma, Barcaldine, Childers, Cairns, Townsville & Mackay. And these were all on top of our regularly scheduled courses at Caloundra, Brendale, Upper Coomera and Ipswich.

See below for our full offerings.

  • CPCCWHS1001 Prepare to work safely in the construction industry (White Card)
  • Traffic Controller Skill Set (RIISS00044 Work Zone Traffic Control). Which includes:
    • RIIWHS205D Control Traffic with Stop/Slow Bat
    • RIICOM201D Communicate in the Workplace
    • RIIWHS201D Work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures
  • Traffic Management Implementation. Which includes:
    • RIIWHS302D Implement traffic management plan (for full / new entrants and renewals)
    • RIIRIS301D Apply risk management processes (for the renewal course only)
  • RIIRTM201D Position, set-up and operate a variable message sign (note this is normally a combination course with the PTSS unit)
  • RIIRTM202D Position, set-up and operate portable traffic signals (note this is normally a combination course with the VMS unit)
  • RIIRTM301D Operate a truck or trailer mounted attenuator
  • RIICWD503D Prepare work zone traffic management plan

Please also note that where required, AATC is WHSQ and DTMR approved for Queensland delivery.

Contact us today on 3881 3008 (option 2) or by email on [email protected] for more information on our courses.

*Terms and conditions apply, please contact us for further details.

Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) & VMS/PTSS courses in January

AATC are happy to announce we will be offering our Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA) course and our VMS & PTSS combo course in January.

Spaces are limited, so get in quick!

Please note, there are pre-requisites for both courses.

TMA Course: 15 January 2020 (15/01/20)

VMS & PTSS Course: 16 January 2020 (16/01/20)

To book into either of the courses, for the pre-requisites, or for more information, please contact us on the details below.

Phone: 3881 3008 (option 2)

Email: [email protected]