The re-badged RTA plans on unveiling a successor to the defunct three strikes scheme in February next year
November 23, 2011
The NSW Government is planning on unveiling a national scheme to tackle heavy vehicle speeding in February next year.
The Roads and Maritime Services, previously known as the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), will next month hold a workshop with other state and territory departments to develop a national compliance framework for speeding as part of the shift towards a single set of trucking regulations.
Announced as a replacement to the now defunct three strikes scheme, a spokesperson for the Roads and Maritime Services says a national approach will help manage driver behaviour.
The spokesperson says the workshop will contribute to the development of the new compliance scheme, while representatives from the industry and the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will also be involved.
“Results from these workshops and the compliance framework is expected to be announced in February 2012,” the spokesperson says.
The Australian Institute of Criminology reviewed the three strikes scheme in March this year and presented its findings to the NSW Government 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. It also suggested greater industry consultation should be carried out to develop and maintain a suitable regulatory framework to reduce heavy vehicle speeding,” the spokesperson says.
Under the three strikes system in NSW, a truck would be slapped with one strike for every time it was detected travelling 15km/h over the speed limit. Once a vehicle recorded three strikes, the government would deregister it.
“All strikes are retained for a period of three years from the date of the offence. Roads and Maritime Services (replacing Roads and Traffic Authority) will remove a strike from the record of a heavy vehicle after a three year period,” the Roads and Maritime Services says on its website.
According to the department, the scheme was aimed at cutting heavy vehicle speeding, improving road safety and encouraging companies to educate their drivers.