The NHVR has revealed that it has prosecuted a driver for a severe dimension breach after they attempted to enter the Sydney M5 tunnel in December last year.
The driver was charged under the Heavy Vehicle National Law (HVNL) for failing to comply with dimension requirements after the load they were transporting collided with the roof of the tunnel. The vehicle had travelled past a low clearance sign for the tunnel of 4.6m and was later measured to be 4.86 metres in height, with its legal limit capped at 4.3 metres.
Brett Patterson, the NHVR’s director of operations for central region said the NHVR wants to remind operators and drivers to measure their loads.
“It’s crucial for both operators and drivers to measure the height of the truck and plan their journey ahead of time to ensure they comply with tunnel height clearances,” said Patterson.
“It’s also important to remember that loads can shift during a journey, so checking your load before you commence your trip and throughout is imperative.”
The NHVR says it has recently partnered with the NSW Government to launch an education and awareness campaign following the recent spike in over-height truck incidents in Sydney.
The video is aimed at educating drivers on preventative actions they can take to avoid an incident occurring. Drivers should ensure they obey all road rules and be aware of any critical locations before starting and throughout their journey.
You can view the video on our website here: https://www.nhvr.gov.au/overheight
The NHVR said it is also investigating other parties in the Chain of Responsibility that may be contributing to these incidents.
