Law firm warns businesses to examine their operations following the introduction of chain of responsibility law for speed
By Brad Gardner | July 22, 2010
Law firm Cooper Grace Ward is warning Queensland businesses to examine their operations following the introduction of chain of responsibility law for heavy vehicle speed.
All parties involved in the delivery of goods can now be held accountable if a truck driver is caught speeding after the Queensland Government introduced the law on July 1. The law applies to vehicles over 4.5 tonnes.
The firm says anyone in the chain found to have influenced the driver to break the law can face fines of up to $8,000.
“Reviewing agreements and trip scheduling, risk management and other workplace practices and policies is essential to ensure that all reasonable steps are being taken to discourage the driver to speed,” Cooper Grace Ward writes in an information bulletin outlining the new law.
Those accused of breaking chain of responsibility law must show they did not influence the driver to speed.
In its bulletin, Cooper Grace Ward writes that road authorities will examine trip plans, driver training, contracts and agreements to determine if reasonable steps were taken.
The law also includes a provision targeting drivers caught tampering with speed limiters.
Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan says it is the first time operators can be fined for tampering.
Queensland Trucking Association CEO Peter Garske says speed limiter tampering is “a blight on our industry”.
“I look forward to the first prosecution,” he says.
The law follows similar chain of responsibility reforms applying to fatigue management and vehicle overloading.