NSW acts on recommendations to reduce the number of overheight trucks entering tunnels
January 31, 2011
The NSW Government has completed its first report on reducing the number of crashes involving overheight vehicles.
The government has installed traffic lights and tunnel safety cameras at the entrance of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as one of the recommendations from the Tunnels Taskforce.
The group was established to develop ways of reducing the number of heavy vehicles colliding with tunnels.
Lights turn red if the height detection sensors a few hundred metres out from the entrance to the tunnel pick up an overheight vehicle on approach, Roads Minister David Borger says.
“This reduces the chances of an overheight vehicle hitting one of Sydney’s busiest tunnels by stopping it before it happens,” Borger says.
“If motorists see a red light on the approach to a tunnel they should not enter to avoid potential congestion.”
Borger says many of the recommendations from the taskforce have been implemented, including improved signs, greater penalties and stronger enforcement measures.
“However, it is important we continue to work together to ensure we get this right,” he says
The Government is also working with the National Information and Communications Technology Association to introduce a new system to alert heavy vehicle drivers their vehicle is too high to safely pass through tunnels.
“The system uses wireless communication technology, sensors and an in-vehicle display to alert drivers their vehicles exceed the maximum height limit,” Borger says.
The report also recommends the Roads and Traffic Authority review and update fact sheets and maps on its website so users can easily identify tunnel heights for each tunnel.
Borger says work has already started and updates are due to be finished by March.
Related coverage:
• Drivers of overheight vehicles to be targeted by RTA campaign
• NSW targets overheight trucks with fines and demerits