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Hefty company fine over high speed limiter setting

Queensland firm’s B-double device set 25 per cent above limit: TfNSW

 

A Queensland freight company has been taught an expensive lesson in New South Wales around speed compliance.

The company, which TfNSW declines to name, is fined $10,000 after being found guilty of having a speed limiter set above 125km/h. 

Transport for NSW (TfNSW) director compliance Roger Weeks says he welcomes the strong message sent to the Heritage Park-based company around the need to travel at safe speeds.

“Excessive speed is a significant contributing factor to fatal and serious crashes and the impact of speed related incidents is significantly increased when it involves heavy vehicles,” Weeks says.

The Kenworth B-double combination involved was stopped at the Jones Island Heavy Vehicle Checking Station while travelling north on February 19.

Tests carried out on the speed limiter found it was set to 125.5km/h – more than 25 per cent above the allowed threshold. 


Read about TfNSW’s new speed limiter compliance fact sheet, here


According to TfNSW, the truck driver told inspectors the speed limiter software had recently been updated and he thought the truck could only travel at 104km/h.

The prime mover and two trailers were immediately given major grounded defects. The company was issued with a court attendance notice.

The matter was heard in Forster Local Court on July 15, with court documents showing a case against LPS Haulage on that date. 

The prosecution submitted that the offence was at the higher end of seriousness, as the company’s truck was able to travel at more than 25 per cent above the maximum speed limit, creating a real risk to public safety. 

Weeks says the incident sounds a clear warning to other trucking companies to ensure speed limiters were set to ensure trucks did not travel above 100km/h.

“The movement of freight is a significant contributor to our economy, but it’s not worth dying for and the ability to travel at 125km/h significantly increases that risk,” he adds.

“We want freight to be moving around as efficiently as possible, but also as safely as possible.”

The driver was not charged as there had been no speeding offence.

“This company will be the subject of ongoing monitoring and if speed non-compliance continues further COR action may be taken,” Weeks says

 

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