Retailers drive down safety on roads: TWU

Coles and other major retailers are responsible for driving down safety standards on the nation's roads, a union says.

An average of 330 people are killed and more than 5300 are injured each year in heavy vehicle incidents.

"Truck driving is Australia's deadliest industry, with a death rate ten times the industrial average," Tony Sheldon, national secretary of the Transport Workers Union, said on Monday.

He was speaking in Sydney's Martin Place, where he joined the wives of truck drivers to try to garner support for the Road Safety Remuneration Bill.

A giant Valentines card was on hand to present to MPs and Senators, asking them to "show their love" for truckies and road users.

"We are asking our politicians to stand shoulder to shoulder with Australian road users, and not with Coles and other greedy retailers," Mr Sheldon said.

The bill, to establish a tribunal which would determine minimum conditions and pay rates for employed and self-employed drivers, is up for public hearing on Wednesday and will be debated in federal parliament in the coming weeks.

"The huge pressures placed on drivers by big retail bullies in their relentless drive for profits and control over the entire industry is directly responsible for the safety crisis on Australian roads," Mr Sheldon said.

He cited a recent survey which found 48 per cent of drivers reported almost one day a week in unpaid waiting time.

Fifty-six per cent of owner drivers had to forgo vehicle maintenance because of economic pressure and 27 per cent felt they had to drive too fast.

Almost 40 per cent felt pressured to drive longer than legally allowed.

"These economic pressures impact on every Australian road user," Mr Sheldon said.

"The system as it operates now, with its excessive pressures and perverse incentives, can encourage drivers to engage in unsafe road practices, simply to meet arbitrary deadlines imposed by mega retailers like Coles."

Mr Sheldon said there had been two decades of commissions, coroners' reports and inquiries that had highlighted the link between the transport safety crises and economic factors.