More than half of the trucks inspected during a Joint Traffic Task Force operation in Sydney’s west today, were found to be defective, NSW Police say.
The joint Traffic Task Force continue to target heavy vehicles in south-west and western Sydney during Operation Catapault 4, an operation aimed at taking dangerous vehicles off the road.
Today’s operation is a part of series of operations which started in March 2017.
Today, the Joint Traffic Taskforce, consisting of officers from the NSW Police Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, Roads and Maritime Inspectors, and NSW Environment Protection Authority inspectors intercepted truck and dog heavy vehicles along the M4 at near Homebush Bay and surrounding areas.
The operation resulted in 95 truck and trailers being inspected, where;
- 28 electronic speed limiters downloads were conducted, with five found to be non-compliant,
- 34 infringements were issued, and
- 54 defect notices were issued for various offences
Assistant Commissioner Michael Corboy of the Traffic & Highway Patrol Command, said Joint Traffic Task Force operations will continue until owners and operators can ensure all trucks are compliant.
"Operation Catapult is one of many operations undertaken by the Joint Traffic Task Force in order to keep unsafe trucks and drivers off our roads.
"We work closely with Roads and Maritime and the NSW Environment Protection Authority to ensure trucks are safe and compliant.
"Together, today we issued 34 infringements and handed out 54 defect notices for trucks that are not roadworthy and a danger to all road users.
"Our duty is to keep the public safe. We make no apologies for targeting and taking action against drivers, operators, and company owners who cut corners when it comes to safety," Assistant Commissioner Corboy said.
Roads and Maritime Director of Compliance Roger Weeks said all parties in the road transport supply chain need to take positive steps to prevent mass, load restraint, dimension, and fatigue and speed offences or face fines.
"Roads and Maritime is responsible for detecting, investigating and prosecuting breaches of the chain of responsibility laws.
"Roadworthiness of the truck fleet is also critically important, and Roads and Maritime inspectors will defect trucks which don’t meet the required safety standards.
"Everyone who uses our roads relies on the safe operation of those involved in moving construction waste around the road network," Mr Weeks said.
