Authorities ‘happy’ with compliance rate, despite ‘a few exceptions’
A compliance operation on the Barrier Highway in South Australia’s mid north saw 187 heavy vehicles stopped over a three day period, SA Police reports.
Police from Yorke Mid North Local Service Area’s Highway Patrol Section worked in partnership with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) and Primary Industries and Regions South Australia (PIRSA) to conduct Operation Oodlalock.
The operation, held in Oodla Wirra, targeted compliance with heavy vehicle legislation including fatigue and vehicle standards.
During the operation 85 defect notices were issued, along with 56 expiation notices, SA Police notes.
Four drivers were reported for offences including overdimension and fatigue-related offences and will be summonsed to appear in court at a later date.
Further investigations will be made into a driver who allegedly made false entries in his work diary.
NHVR says it and SA Police are cooperating on a remapping investigation
“Operation Oodlalock achieved significant results,” Sergeant Tristian Graham of Yorke Mid North LSA Highway Patrols says.
“Although the number of drivers and vehicles receiving expiation notices were reasonably high, overall police were happy with the standard of drivers and vehicles with only a few exceptions.”
No heavy vehicle drivers were detected drug driving, however two light vehicle drivers submitted to a driver test and provided a positive result to methamphetamine.
A police spokesperson tells ATN the Yorke Mid North Local Service Area plans a heavy vehicle operation in the mid north of the state each year; last year being in Yunta.
“The Barrier Highway is a busy trucking route and the operation forms part of our Local Service Area’s commitment to Road Safety.”