A new high-tech commercial vehicle safety centre is set to open outside RNZAF Base Ohakea, between Bulls and Sanson, to screen trucks for compliance and risk.
The Ohakea Commercial Vehicle Safety Centre (CVSC) will become operational on Wednesday, May 7.
From this date, heavy vehicles will be screened by the static cameras and in-road weigh-in-motion (WIM) scales on State Highway 1 and 3 between Bulls and Sanson.
“The Police Commercial Vehicle Safety Team (CVST) will be onsite and enforcing as required,” the NZ Transport Agency says.
Located on Pukenui Rd, the new CVSC replaces the old New Zealand Police weigh station near Bulls and is one of 12 facilities being rolled out nationwide on key freight routes.
The centre uses WIM technology and automatic number plate recognition cameras to identify vehicles that may be overweight or non-compliant. Trucks flagged by the system will be instructed to pull in via a roadside digital sign.
“If your truck is flagged, the variable message signage (VMS) further down the road will display your licence plate, signalling you to pull into the centre,” NZTA says.
“The VMS may also say All Heavy Vehicle Stop. If this message is displayed all heavy vehicles are required to pull into the centre.”
Once inside, CVST officers may ask drivers to drive over the weigh bridge and could carry out checks on road user charges, certificates of fitness, logbooks, and impairment.
“While you’re on site CVST might also carry out more compliance checks, such as checking for RUC, Certificate of Fitness, logbooks and worktime, drug and alcohol impairment, or completing a vehicle inspection.”
“If you are signalled to pull into the centre, you must do so. If you don’t pull into the centre you could get a $1000 fine.”
According to NZTA, the upgraded facility is part of the national Commercial Vehicle Safety Programme, aimed at improving road safety and ensuring fairer road use.
“This upgraded technology on SH1/3 will help increase efficiency and streamline travel for compliant operators, because those not flagged during screening won’t need to pull into the CVSC.
“Using data, we will be able to focus education and compliance work toward operators who aren’t compliant on our roads, making sure they’re paying their fair share of road maintenance costs,” NZTA says.
The location was chosen because it’s a vital link to the central and lower North Island and is a high-volume freight route with more than 2000 heavy vehicle passing daily. The construction of the new permanent roundabout on the state highway also means trucks can safely enter from both directions.
