North-west metro region police are worried about the growing numbers of truck drivers booked for driving under the influence of drugs.
A month-long statewide police operation targeted more than 5000 heavy-vehicle drivers from early May until early June, with a specific brief to check for fatigue, speed and drug use as well as compliance with standards and procedures.
Results from north-west metro, which includes the Hume and Calder freeways, show more than double the number of drivers on these state highways were found to be either drug-affected or chronically fatigued than those driving the arterial routes in the west, south and east of the state.
Of the 221 trucks and other heavy vehicles stopped in Melbourne’s north and west, more than a quarter of drivers were found to have committed an offence, with 30 fatigue-related offences detected, 12 defect notices issued, and nine positive drug tests taken.
That compares to two positive drug test results and eight mobile phone use reports among 291 truckies in the state’s western police region.
About 1400 offences were detected over all Victorian regions during Operation AUSTRANS, which was part of a joint Australian and New Zealand police commissioners’ commitment to the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety.
Major Collision Investigation Group’s Inspector Bernie Rankin said the number of truck drivers testing positive for drugs was totally unacceptable and a real risk on the roads.
“The use of illicit drugs by truck drivers is a real concern for us,” Inspector Rankin said. “Heavy vehicles can weigh up to 65 tonnes and when they collide with a smaller vehicle, such as a car or motorcycle, the results are devastating.”
He said the biggest concern for police was that one in every 23 heavy-vehicle drivers tested returned a positive preliminary oral fluid test for drugs.
“I know there are a lot of hard-working, law-abiding people on the roads driving heavy vehicles,” Inspector Rankin said.
“Unfortunately, the behaviour of those doing the wrong thing impacts on the overall reputation of the transport industry.
“And this is a vital industry for Australia. Just about everything we buy is transported on our roads and highways.
“It’s essential we police the industry in a way that enables us to remove from our roads those drivers who have no respect for the law or other road users,” Inspector Rankin said. “All road users benefit from a safe heavy-vehicle industry”.
For more information and statistics, visit www.anzpaa.org.au
