Transurban slammed on Twitter over failed truck safety message
Aussie toll road corporation Transurban has been slammed after posting a truck safety message on Twitter that certainly missed the mark with the public. See the firestorm that erupted.
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Australian toll road giant Transurban has found itself at the centre of a social media firestorm following a tweet about driver safety.
A tweet, posted to the official Transurban Twitter account on Monday, was widely slammed by the public after it attempted to encourage drivers to be safe around trucks on the country’s motorways.
“Be seen. Because trucks can’t always see you. #RoadSafety,” the post read.
The tweet was paired with a video that showed a silver hatchback driving along an Australian motorway before a truck crushes the car into a concrete barrier.
Hundreds of people were quick to point out the truck driver was entirely at fault for the crash and queried what more the driver of the car could have done to be seen.
Sorry, we should have done that better. Truck blind spots are a big risk. We have eyes on the road 24/7 and see incidents like this, so raising awareness (correctly) is important for everyone to be safe.
— Transurban (@Transurban) May 16, 2023
This afternoon, Transurban responded to the controversy with an additional tweet, saying “Sorry, we should have done that better”.
“Truck blind spots are a big risk. We have eyes on the road 24/7 and see incidents like this, so raising awareness (correctly) is important for everyone to be safe.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Transurban sparked further ire by trying to play down the furore by using a meme in the replies.
The online backlash was so intense Twitter added a footnote to the Transurban tweet to provide context.
“The truck appears to be tailgating the much smaller car front of it and gives very little notice before switching lanes. You must give drivers enough notice that you are changing lane,” the Twitter note said.
“Context is written by people who use Twitter, and appears when rated helpful by others.”
If the truck driver was driving in an appropriate manner, the collision wouldn't have occurred. It's broad daylight, the weather is fine. The driver of the SUV couldn't have been expected to do anything more.
— Jim Parke (@JimParke) May 15, 2023
Driver of the truck needs to learn to use his mirrors. That should never have happened. Probably focused on the car right in front of him that he was far too close to as well.
— Mike Williams (Oz) (@theoztrucker) May 15, 2023
Not good driving from what should be a professional.
there is absolutely nothing that car driver could have done
— Duke (@OfKimbriki) May 15, 2023
Could've taken a sickie and it would've been all good.
— Powell's Other Glasses (Ausnotes) 🌸 (@ausnotes) May 15, 2023
In what world is this not the truck drivers fault
— levi 🌶 (@levitorres_) May 15, 2023
Time to roll out this bad boy. pic.twitter.com/E4HqcBPHwD
— Peter Murphy (@peterkmurphy) May 15, 2023
That is 100% the trucks fault. The car did nothing wrong.
— Scott (@ScottElderfiel1) May 15, 2023
The truck didn't give way. They merged when they didn't have room and caused an accident.
Ridiculous driving by the truck.
Is the truck driver running this account?
— Seano (@NoClassNoClass) May 15, 2023
I’m sorry Transurban. You may want to consider deleting this tweet. That truck was driving extremely dangerously and definitely saw the car it ran into. Your tweet is inexplicable.
— 💧tim cassidy (@timcass28343283) May 15, 2023
it’s the cars fault for existing
— ham 🪴 (@hamhammer27) May 15, 2023
Are you serious???? You may want to pick a different example. A truck coming into a lane with a car already in there, is negligence on the part of the truck driver. How exactly is that car supposed to be more visible?
— Rachele (She/Her) (@BiohazardRGt) May 15, 2023
You should delete this. The truck driver was entirely at fault here. pic.twitter.com/ohnemmWTHJ
— Compute My Head Strap N95 â„¢ï¸ (@MixtUpMixy) May 15, 2023
Why couldn't that truck see that car? I've driven trucks for 30+ years and I've never not seen a car on my DRIVER'S SIDE.
— Turdine Cupcake (@erfbeeass) May 15, 2023
What @Transurban meant to say was
— Andrew McKenzie (@AndrewMacca1975) May 15, 2023
"Trucks pay more to use our corporate road than cars so trucks have the right of way. It's our way or the highway barrier. "
You mean like this? pic.twitter.com/LxS5TppUty
— Rob Leong (@RobLeong1) May 15, 2023
You should really delete this tweet. It’s clearly the trucks fault
— Tom Sharp (@ChefTom1985) May 15, 2023
Transurban, whose Australian operations are based in Melbourne, owns and operates major roads in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.
Major roads operated by Transurban in Sydney include the Cross City Tunnel, Eastern Distributor, Hills M2, Lane Cove Tunnel, M5 East, M5 South–West, NorthConnex, WestConnex M4 and M8, WestConnex M4–M8 link and Westlink M7.
In Melbourne, Transurbvan manages the West Gate Tunnel and CityLink networks.
Transurban’s extensive Brisbane operations include AirportlinkM7, Clem7, Gateway Motorway, Go Between Bridge, Legacy Way and Logan Motorway.
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