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SARTA takes police to task on blitz stats

Shearer says full figures on Dry Creek operation needed

 

The South Australian Road Transport Association (SARTA) has reacted with puzzlement and concern at the SA Police’s refusal to furnish a total number of trucks pulled over in a compliance blitz this week at Dry Creek.

State police gave the number of infringements but rejected an ATN request for the total number, which would have given an indication of how industry was faring with compliance.

“The refusal by SAPol to say how many trucks were intercepted is presumably an ill-considered strategy to avoid the response from me that the stats actually show a very low level of problems within trucking,” SARTA director Steve Shearer tells ATN.

“Think about it, if the rate of problems, be it defects or drugs etc were significant, then they would trumpet that fact.

“We can only assume that yet again the stats show the continued low level of problems as has been evident from blitzes in recent times.

“How can SAPol expect the industry to make any meaningful judgements about the rate of roadworthiness, drug or other problems and assess what we can/should do about it if they don’t give us the full picture?

“This is obviously a disingenuous approach by SAPol and yet more evidence of their withdrawal from what was a very successful and co-operative approach hitherto.”

In the absence of an official figure, Shearer estimates the total number of trucks pulled over at about 100.

Dry Creek positive drug tests came in at four

“This sort of grandstanding issuing if meaningless and misleading stats must stop,” Shearer says.

“How about they contrast and compare the number of positive drug tests from truck blitzes with the 12 per cent of motorists who tested positive over Easter in SA?

“Trucking should be applauded for its very low levels of drug use along with statements that the police and industry need to work on eradicating the remaining very small recalcitrant minority who are using drugs need to be stamped out.”

 

 

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