Load height alert comes on heels of hefty tunnel strike fines
New South Wales authorities have issued an over-height load warning following two tunnel impact incidents yesterday.
The warning came on the same day as details emerged of about $200,000 in compensation, costs and fines were meted out to two companies involved in a similar incident in 2012.
In yesterday’s incidents a low loader carrying an excavator hit the roof mounted fire sprinklers inside the Airport Tunnel’s south bound lanes, breaking the roof and sprinklers.
Police and Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) officers found the combination has travelled for 100 metres before the driver realised the collision had occurred, at which point he stopped his vehicle.
The driver copped a penalty notice for Disobey Low Clearance Sign, which carries a $2,196 penalty as well as the loss of six demerit points.
Meanwhile, another heavy vehicle activated the height warning sensors just before the M5 tunnel at Bexley.
Police and RMS inspectors later stopped the truck, which was then backed-up and re-directed to an RMS checking station.
While the truck and load were found not to be over height, it is believed that debris in the load contributed to the tunnel sensors being activated.
Several defects were found on the vehicle during the checking station inspection.
“Along with the fine and loss of demerit points, the driver involved in today’s incident is also facing the possibility of licence and registration suspension for up to three months and a bill to recoup the costs to repair the tunnel,” RMS safety and compliance director Peter Wells says, warning that NSW has “toughest heavy vehicle compliance regime in the country”.