The Transport Workers Union (TWU) says something must be done to stem the flow of blood on Australian roads, with figures showing there is a new truck crash death every week in Victoria alone.

TWU national secretary Tony Sheldon says the 34 deaths in Victorian truck crashes this year are evidence of the pressure that bosses put on truck drivers to speed, skip rest breaks and take other risks with safety to meet unrealistic deadlines.

Mr Sheldon made the comments after a crash last week on Melbourne’s Westgate Freeway, in which a pedestrian walking on the road was struck by a truck.

“Road transport is Australia’s most dangerous industry, with 330 deaths each year,” Mr Sheldon said.

“Tragically this includes 34 deaths in 28 separate truck crashes around Victoria this year. That’s an average of one truck crash death for every week this year – a disastrous outcome on Victorian roads.

“Our sympathies are with the families of those killed or involved in these crashes, including yesterday’s fatal accident.

“The causes of the Westgate Freeway crash remain under investigation, reportedly including why the pedestrian was on the road in the path of oncoming traffic.

“But we’re seeing more and more truck crashes as a result of speeding, fatigue and poor maintenance – many caused by transport clients setting unrealistic deadlines and keeping vehicles on the road too long.

“A 2012 survey showed 46% of drivers in one major supply chain – Coles – face economic pressure to skip rest breaks and 26% have to speed to meet delivery deadlines.

“It’s time to end pressure on drivers through action in the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal, which sets safe rates of pay and conditions in road transport.

“The Federal Government is ‘reviewing’ the Tribunal with a view to closing it down.

“If this occurs we will see even tighter deadlines, worse maintenance and more economic pressure on drivers.

“And that can only mean more truck crashes and deaths on our roads.”

Mr Sheldon has slammed the Federal Government’s “review” of the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal. He says it was launched on the back of closed door meetings, and $1.2 million in political donations from Coles.

“Some government MPs have described the Tribunal as ‘red tape,” Mr Sheldon said.

“Our message to the government is that road safety is not red tape.”