On Monday 20 March 2017 Police agencies around Australia conducted the first ‘National day of drug testing’ targeting heavy vehicle drivers, as part of Operation Austrans.
The operation, which is coordinated annually and sees a focus on truck and other heavy vehicle drivers across the state for drugs and alcohol, traffic, speed and compliance offences. WA Police worked in collaboration with Main Roads Western Australia and the Department of Transport to conduct the operation, WA Police say.
Across Western Australia, 444 drug driver screening tests and 661 preliminary breath tests were administered on the day resulting in five positive drug results.
Inspector Mike Sparkman said that whilst the majority of those in the heavy vehicle industry are doing the right thing, a noticeable 147 heavy vehicles were issued with improvement and defect notices and cautions for not upholding their roadworthiness compliance responsibilities.
Operation Austrans has participation across Australia and New Zealand and has been conducted annually since 1989.
It is a collaborative effort to enhance safety by monitoring adherence to road and operational safety issues in the heavy vehicle road transport sector.
