VicRoads says it's too early to know if truck restrictions are working, but adds that the measures won't be removed
By Ruza Zivkusic | November 4, 2010
It has been more than two weeks since trucks were banned from travelling on the right hand lane on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway but VicRoads says it is yet to see results.
Truck drivers were restricted from driving on the right hand lane from October 19 as part of the Brumby Government’s plan to improve safety and encourage better road sharing across the state.
Forty-six signs were unveiled across the 16km freeway, between Springvale Road and Hoddle Street, to advise drivers of the restrictions.
But VicRoads’s vehicle management and safety director Don Hogben says it’s too soon to tell the results.
“As the lane restrictions have only been in place for a few weeks, it is too soon to tell how the overall network has been affected,” Hogben says.
“Early observations suggest compliance has been good and the transit lane is performing better without trucks.
“We plan to roll out truck lane restrictions on other suitable freeways in Victoria, including EastLink, with the Monash-CityLink-West Gate Freeway corridor in the Western Ring Road to follow once roadworks are complete.
“The precise locations will be considered in detail, taking account of the particular circumstances and experience with the implementation of truck lane restrictions to date.”
Once implemented, Hogben says restrictions will not be removed
“VicRoads will continue monitoring the lane restrictions and the resulting road sharing,” he says.
The new rule applies 24-hours a day, and truck drivers caught using the restricted lane will be fined $358.
Truck exclusion lanes have been operating on Princes Freeway since July 1.
The restrictions apply to all vehicles over 4.5 tonnes, except buses and caravans.