Roads and Maritime Services to hold a workshop on replacement for Strikes Scheme
By Rob McKay | November 10, 2011
NSW efforts to combat speeding trucks is being overhauled and the search is on for a replacement for the state’s Three Strikes Scheme.
Under the scheme, truck drivers found to have exceeded the speed limit by 15 kmh three times in three years have their licences suspended.
It relates to trucks of more than 4.5 tonnes gross vehicle mass.
NSW Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) will hold a workshop next month to discuss ways to manage heavy vehicle speeding with national chain of responsibility investigators.
The RMS workshop and Three Strikes Scheme review follow last month’s meeting the NSW Centre for Road Safety held with a range of heavy truck industry representatives as part of developing the NSW Road Safety Strategy 2012-21.
NSW Roads Minister Duncan Gay says that after the removal and review of the scheme, recommendations were made to develop a national framework to manage heavy vehicle speeding and to ensure parties in the supply chain were kept accountable.
“In line with these recommendations, the RMS chain of responsibility investigator workshop will be held next month with representative from other states and territories,” the minister says.
“The information from the workshop will contribute to the new compliance framework with consideration of the chain of responsibility approach to speed management.
“This framework will be developed in collaboration with the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator Office and industry representatives.
“Results from these workshops and the compliance framework are expected to be announced in February 2012.”
The Australian Institute of Criminology reviewed the Three Strikes Scheme in March and the results were finalised in August.
“The review found a national approach to heavy vehicle speeding was required, particularly in regard to the management of driver behaviour in the supply chain,” Gay says.
“It also suggested greater industry consultation should be carried out to develop and maintain a suitable regulatory framework to reduce heavy vehicle speeding.
“It concluded collaboration with industry will improve stakeholder understanding and commitment.
“The results of the review will be used in conjunction with findings from the upcoming workshop when developing a compliance framework.”