hsvredsled
02-03-2010, 08:54 AM
Driving up the coast with the family on Friday and we went through some 32 km of roadworks near Kew on the Pacific Hwy. Next thing we saw a truck come the other way spin up a rock from its tyres which missiled itself towards our windscreen. BANG! Kids crapped themselves, and shocked all of us. The rock was just smaller than a ping pong ball. Major damage/crack in windscreen.
We pulled over and I went spoke to a good bloke who was working on the site. He politely escorted me to a safe area because of OHS concerns. He made a heap of phonecalls and later I had to turn around and go back to the site office some 15k's back to report it.
Spoke to a very efficient lady there and filled out forms including a stat dec. She then informed me that yes they did have trucks working the area, and the trucks occasionally get rocks that size caught in the bogey wheels when they turn from the site which then can spin off the wheels when the trucks gain speed. By this time another lady came in profusely apologising and saying she had dispatched a sweeper truck to the area and it had all ready done a sweep.
Out to the car and an inspection of the windscreen was done and numerous photos taken. You could the damage was fresh as it still had glass powder on the screen and glass was chipping away. More apologies and I was told that upon my return to Sydney get a few quotes and fax them in, they would pay over the phone for the screen.
A few points to note.
I (like many) am the first to whinge and complain about roadworks etc.
Historically, I thought the report of this incident would end up with some fella with a ciggy hanging out of his mouth leaning on a shovel shrugging his shoulders at me.
This whole incident was handled with the utmost professionalism. From the very first fella who escorted me from a work area to a safe ares due to OHS concerns right through the whole incident and investigation.
Upon my return trip along that section of road, there was not one rock to be seen, so obviously the sweeper truck had done its job.
When I was leaving the site, I saw people queueing up for a BBQ lunch. It was explained to me that once a month the company puts on a BBQ for the workers with a dollar donation and the proceed go to charity.
My opinon of roadworks have changed. Its fine for us to drive along new stretches of road thinking 'how good is this' but we must realise that some inconvenience must be shared with drivers to get roads to that stage during construction. From my experience, the roadworkers are not cowboys, nor the management. A very accountable, and responsible unit.
I will be writing a letter of appreciation to the combined RTA/THIESS team which is handling this project.
We pulled over and I went spoke to a good bloke who was working on the site. He politely escorted me to a safe area because of OHS concerns. He made a heap of phonecalls and later I had to turn around and go back to the site office some 15k's back to report it.
Spoke to a very efficient lady there and filled out forms including a stat dec. She then informed me that yes they did have trucks working the area, and the trucks occasionally get rocks that size caught in the bogey wheels when they turn from the site which then can spin off the wheels when the trucks gain speed. By this time another lady came in profusely apologising and saying she had dispatched a sweeper truck to the area and it had all ready done a sweep.
Out to the car and an inspection of the windscreen was done and numerous photos taken. You could the damage was fresh as it still had glass powder on the screen and glass was chipping away. More apologies and I was told that upon my return to Sydney get a few quotes and fax them in, they would pay over the phone for the screen.
A few points to note.
I (like many) am the first to whinge and complain about roadworks etc.
Historically, I thought the report of this incident would end up with some fella with a ciggy hanging out of his mouth leaning on a shovel shrugging his shoulders at me.
This whole incident was handled with the utmost professionalism. From the very first fella who escorted me from a work area to a safe ares due to OHS concerns right through the whole incident and investigation.
Upon my return trip along that section of road, there was not one rock to be seen, so obviously the sweeper truck had done its job.
When I was leaving the site, I saw people queueing up for a BBQ lunch. It was explained to me that once a month the company puts on a BBQ for the workers with a dollar donation and the proceed go to charity.
My opinon of roadworks have changed. Its fine for us to drive along new stretches of road thinking 'how good is this' but we must realise that some inconvenience must be shared with drivers to get roads to that stage during construction. From my experience, the roadworkers are not cowboys, nor the management. A very accountable, and responsible unit.
I will be writing a letter of appreciation to the combined RTA/THIESS team which is handling this project.