Hefty fines and demerit points have reduced the number of overheight vehicles entering NSW tunnels, road authority says.
The Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) is crediting the introduction of severe penalties for a reduction in the number of trucks caught breaching overheight restrictions in New South Wales.
The RMS says the number of overheight incidents has dropped from 71 to 48 following the introduction of the new penalty regime.
Those caught entering a tunnel with a truck exceeding height restrictions face a fine of more than $2,000 and six demerit points. Drivers can also lose their licence for three months.
RMS spokeswoman Katherine Danks says the NSW Government has the toughest overheight truck penalties in Australia.
“Sydney’s major tunnels have signs on approaching roads to warn drivers about height restrictions and infrared height sensors which activate flashing lights and manually operated boom gates at the tunnel entrance,” Danks says.
“The Sydney Harbour Tunnel is fitted with an integrated system of height sensors, electronic signs and traffic lights with red camera detection. This system has successfully reduced delays for other motorists from about 30 minutes to five minutes in most cases while the truck is removed.”
Victoria is introducing new measures to prevent overheight trucks entering the Burnley and Domain tunnels in Melbourne.
CityLink, which operates the tunnels, will on August 5 turn on a new electronic detection system that will activate when a truck higher than 4.6m tries to use the tunnels.
Photography: Greg Bush