The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator has announced a new education campaign to highlight the health and safety risks caused by illegal engine remapping.
The NHVR says the campaign will focus on educating the heavy vehicle industry and public on the harmful effects that engine remapping can have on heavy vehicle drivers and logistics workers, as well as communities and the environment.
NHVR CEO Sal Petroccitto said the campaign was an opportunity for the NHVR to work collaboratively with the heavy vehicle industry to remove engine remapping and improve safety.
“The NHVR’s highest priority is safety and we’ll continue to focus on compliance while delivering education and awareness through information like the engine remapping campaign,” Mr Petroccitto said.
“By and large, our industry does the right thing, but occasionally we see unsafe practices occurring and it’s our job as a regulator to lead change.
“Whether you’re an owner, driver, mechanic, part of the supply chain or a light vehicle driver, engine remapping puts everyone at risk,” he said.
The NHVR says the campaign will be delivered in two phases, with an initial focus on the exposure that toxic diesel emissions can have due to engine remapping. It adds that research indicates that remapped engines can release up to 60 times more pollutants* into the atmosphere, which can cause damage to the health and safety of workplaces, communities and the environment.
The second stage of the campaign will focus on remapped engines that disable speed limiter controls. With recent compliance checks indicating up to 10 per cent of all heavy vehicles are operating with illegally remapped engines**, the danger is significant and can cause serious injury.
Federal Assistant Minister for Road Safety and Freight Transport Scott Buchholz said the campaign was important in helping draw attention to greater health and safety benefits across the heavy vehicle industry.
“You might not immediately realise the dangers of illegal engine remapping, but it’s a serious issue and one that the industry as a whole can control and eradicate,” Mr Buchholz said.
“I congratulate the NHVR for their stand on this issue and look forward to progress being made.”
Sal Petroccitto added that with more than 50,000 owners and operators and in excess of half a million heavy vehicles across the country, everyone had a part to play.
“Let’s all clear the air over illegal engine remapping and stop speed limiter tampering in its tracks,” he said.
The NHVR will run a series of engine remapping campaign messages across outdoor advertising, across publications and via social media.
For more information on the campaign and to find out more on the risks and penalties, visit www.nhvr.gov.au/engineremapping
