Police and truck drivers talk safety over coffee

NSW Police and the Australian Trucking Association (ATA) have met with truck drivers in Parkes as part of their Coffee with a Cop initiative.

The initiative aims to help truck drivers and other road users ask questions, clarify issues and address concerns directly with police officers in a positive and informal way.

“This is the third time we have held Coffee with a Cop and it’s proven to be as successful as ever,” said ATA CEO Ben Maguire.

“Truck drivers have told us time and time again how beneficial these kinds of events are and how important it is for road users and police officers to understand each other.

“Sometimes road users have misconceptions about police and vice versa, so it’s a great opportunity for each to share their side of the story.

“It’s also a perfect chance for the ATA to hear from drivers and understand their on-road concerns firsthand.”

Chief Inspector Phillip Brooks from NSW Police was one of the officers who spoke to truck drivers about staying safe on the roads, over a free coffee at BP Parkes. He also acknowledged the hard work undertaken by truck drivers in doing their job.

“After our initial launch at BP Marulan, it was great for us to catch up with drivers, operators and those companies that operate in and around Eastern Creek, which services the bulk of the NSW Freight Network,” said Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the NSW Police, Traffic and Highway Patrol Command.

“We know our heavy vehicle drivers are at the forefront on our roads, often calling emergency services to crashes, delivering first aid to victims at the roadside, managing traffic around scenes and providing valuable evidence in road safety incidents.

“This is a great way to say thank you for their service, over a Coffee with a Cop.”

The event was hosted by the BP team, with all drivers and travellers provided with a complimentary coffee. BP continues to invest in state-of-the-art truck stop facilities that provide truck drivers a place to stop, rest, refresh and have a healthy meal before they continue a safe journey.

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