Subscribe to RSSPolice Shocked At Speeding Trucks
Waikato police are shocked to find how many big rig trucks are speeding.
It has started a blitz on them - and in the first week, 92 heavy motor vehicles have been issued infringement notices for speeds exceeding 90km/h.
That figure doesn’t include additional speed camera tickets.
Calling it “far too many,” Inspector Leo Tooman says to make things worse, the police will make sure the drivers’ bosses get to hear about it.
Mr Tooman says since legislative change in 2004 that saw heavy motor vehicle speeds standardised to 90km/h, there had been a number of crashes involving trucks.
Excessive speed remains one of the top three contributing factors in the cause of all fatal and injury crashes in the Waikato and speed survey data taken in 2009 shows us over 36% of vehicles exceed the speed limit in 100km/h areas.
Mr Tooman said the risks posed to other motorists and the District’s roading infrastructure from speeding heavy motor vehicles meant something had to be done and it was.
Police’s crackdown on trucks has the support of the Road Transport Association, the Owner/Driver Association and ACC.
“The industry see Police as a watchdog. If drivers clock up too many hours or demerit points from speeding then they’re creating a workplace hazard which can have repercussions for their employer’s ability to ensure a safe work environment.”
Mr Tooman said while the main focus of the operation was reducing speeding among drivers of heavy motor vehicles those behind the wheel of smaller vehicles shouldn’t get too complacent. “Excessive speed, no matter what vehicle you’re driving, is a killer. Over the same week 168 other drivers were issued tickets for travelling over the 100km/h speed limit, 17 for travelling over 80, 11 over 70, one over 60 and 29 over 50km/h.
“In addition 16 drivers were recorded passing school buses picking up or dropping of children over the 20km/h speed limit. It was a year ago today a young boy was struck down after hoping off a bus near Matamata and we don’t ever want to see a repeat of that do we?”
5 Comments
Time for compulsory black box event recorders for heavy vehicles?
Yes I’d agree with that, trucks should have to submit log files which would details speeds and time spent on the road would be perfect to monitoring compliance.
Many of our trucks are far too big for the majority of our roads and it was ludicrous rationalising the truck and towing speed limit to 90kph. The limits should have been rationalised down to 80 kph.
I would go further and say the limit for all vehicles on single lane roads should be 80kph. and the limit for motorways raised to 110 kph. for cars. To go with the higher limit the law saying you must use the left lane unless blocked (1995 amendment) should be strictly enforced.
“Many of our trucks are far too big for the majority of our roads”
Good thing then that our government just gave them permission to become heavier and larger, eh (also, one of the things few people realise is that the new “it’s by special permit only!” rules actually make some loads that were PREVIOUSLY permit-only fully legal now, without a permit. Especially longer logging trucks).
Totally agree with you Richard re the enforcement of keeping left.
I would suggest that a significant amount of motorway congestion is caused by the lack of enforcement of this road rule. The motorways get slowed down by the clowns in the fast lane doing 80.