Fuel costs for heavy vehicles would fall significantly if the Newell Highway’s roughest surfaces were improved, resulting in savings for consumers, new analysis shows.
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The Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) research found smoothing the pavement would reduce crashes and save lives, but there were also further benefits.
ARRB chief Michael Caltabiano said the data analysis showed treating roughness could save one quarter of fuel consumption in heavy vehicles.
The ARRB analysis showed about 31 per cent of the Newell, which links Queensland and Victoria via Dubbo, had a roughness measure of greater than 80 NRM, or what Mr Caltabiano deemed “a very rough road”.
It showed there was a clear link between roughness and the cost of running a vehicle, not only in fuel consumption but also in deterioration of a vehicle, he said.
So we know that by going from a really rough road to a really smooth road... there is opportunity to save 25 per cent fuel consumption.
- ARRB chief Michael Caltabiano
“So we know that by going from a really rough road to a really smooth road, the significant roughness counts down to what is normal for the rest of the country, there is opportunity to save 25 per cent fuel consumption on vehicles, heavy vehicles,” he said.
“And that is a huge impact, a positive impact for the freight industry of Australia, if they’re saving one-quarter of the cost of fuel by smoothing the network, it makes a big difference.
“And that’s cost of goods to consumers, they must come down.”
The ARRB study that looked at a number of highways found the Newell was were “we can really make an immediate difference”.
“...with the accident reductions available on the Newell much higher than the national average at up to 13 per cent, it’s the obvious place to start improving road roughness,” Mr Caltabiano said.
The ARRB chief described the Newell as “fundamentally important to the economic functioning of the country”.