Last weekend Police in New Zealand and Australia concluded the month long operation AUSTRANS with the aim of improving safety in the heavy vehicle industry.
Nearly 75,000 heavy vehicles were inspected as part of the Trans Tasman operation.
Collectively between the two countries Police found 323 individuals driving unlicensed, 190 drivers tested positive for drugs, there were 3,271 log book breaches, and 1,518 vehicles had improperly retrained loads. There were also 145 trucks detected with speed tampering devices.
Operation AUSTRANS is part of Australian and New Zealand Police Commissioners’ commitment to the UN decade of action for road safety.
Police collaborated with road, transport and safety agencies across Australia and New Zealand to address road safety issues such as fatigue, speed, alcohol and drug use, as well as compliance with roadworthiness standards and procedures.
CEO of the Australia New Zealand Policing Advisory Agency (ANZPAA) chief executive officer Jon White says this operation demonstrates the resolve of police and the agencies to improve safety in the heavy vehicle industry.
“These are worrying numbers, and what is most concerning is that a number of these figures show an upward trend from the previous year,” says White.
“While these statistics are of concern to police, the majority of those in the heavy vehicle industry are doing the right thing and upholding their safety and compliance responsibilities,” he says.
“Although heavy vehicles make up only a small percentage of the total vehicle fleet on Australian and New Zealand roads, they are over-represented in road crashes which often involve serious injury and death.”
“Police urge all those who have a role to play – from the driver right up to the operators and contractors – to do all they can to improve compliance and reduce the number of crashes involving heavy vehicles and associated trauma,” says White.
