The Federal Government has welcomed recently released statistics that show a 20 per cent decline in road fatalities involving heavy vehicles in the last five years.

Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure and Transport, Catherine King, siad the statistics that show that 225 people died in 200 crashes involving heavy vehicles in the 2011-12 financial year.

The Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics’ Fatal heavy vehicle crashes Australia report shows that the number of crashes involving articulated and rigid trucks have decreased by 13 per cent over the last five years.

“Also the number of fatal articulated truck crashes is down by 18 per cent, as well as fewer fatalities from heavy bus crashes with a 4.2% decrease from the year before” Ms King said.

The release of the report comes after the Federal Government’s National Heavy Vehicle Regulator commenced operations late last month, while the Road Safety Remuneration Tribunal begun operations late last year.

The full report can be found here