The New South Wales government is set to trial new technology that will use height check sensors to scan trucks in real time and warn drivers if they are overheight.
This will then allow drivers to divert from their routes and avoid the possibility of overheight incidents. The NSW government says tunnel closure minutes have been cut by 80 per cent in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel since it started its greater campaign to reduce overheight incidents.
“This Australian-first scanning technology takes the guesswork out of load heights with real-time accurate calculations that allow drivers to act immediately and head off overheight incidents,” says NSW minister for roads John Graham.
“The NSW government remains resolute in its commitment to stopping overheight trucks from shutting down our city and inconveniencing motorists. This new technology on trial will help us strengthen the approach even further.
“I want to thank the vast majority of truckies who always know their height and their route. This technology is an awareness, not enforcement tool, it arms drivers with the right information so they can make the right decisions on the road.
“This trial came out of the work of the Overheight Truck Taskforce that brought together the trucking industry, Transport for NSW, the NSW Police and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator. I want to thank the taskforce for its work which has delivered results beyond expectation.”
The scanners will work by giving drivers an accurate real-time height reading on their vehicle. Transport for NSW has combined Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scanning technology with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) software to make this work.
It will be tested over a six month trial for trucks taller than four metres, with the first site already live on the southbound lanes of the M1 Pacific Motorway at the Mount White Heavy Vehicle Safety Station, which is operated by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR).
“Responding to overheight incidents comes at a huge resource and productivity cost – not to mention resulting delays and damage. Following the conclusion of the taskforce’s successful approach, Transport is taking the learnings forward to ensure our road network is safe, efficient and reliable,” says Transport for NSW executive director Craig Moran.
“This project involved Transport Commanders on the ground, network experts in the Transport Management Centre (TMC), our journey planners, safety and heavy vehicle experts, compliance teams, and technical and engineering teams behind the LiDAR technology working together on innovative solutions.
“This saves time for motorists and money for NSW, with repair costs down and closure minutes more than halved.
“We will continue to work with industry to provide the right information, at the right time, to safely plan and manage journeys and prevent disruption.
“We’re starting at Mount White but aim to eventually roll out this new technology to all key heavy vehicle routes entering Sydney. We’ll evaluate the results of the trial in six months’ time.”
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