Trucks in SA to face regular, tougher checks after alarming safety fails

TRUCKS registered in South Australia will face stringent, regular checks after “alarming” safety failures were found in 500 of 900 vehicles checked in a safety trial.

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TRUCKS registered in South Australia will face stringent, regular checks after “alarming” safety failures were found in hundreds of vehicles, the State Government has announced.

More than 500 of the 900 big rigs inspected during a trial scheme were unroadworthy, including more than 100 with faulty brakes.

Tender documents released by the Government show trucks will face testing at four, six and eight years after manufacture, and every year after their 10th birthday. It expects the scheme to begin in July next year, with yet-to-be-determined inspection sites in both the regions and Adelaide.

This truck was stopped on the South-Eastern Freeway in October, and found with vice-grip rear brakes. Picture: Calum Robertson

Vice-grip brakes on the truck stopped by police on the SA Freeway. Picture: Calum Robertson

Vice-grip brakes on the truck stopped by police on the SA Freeway. Picture: Calum Robertson

SA Road Transport Association chief executive Steve Shearer said people had been failing to maintain their trucks, “particularly local trucks”.

“We’ve argued over the past decade that roadworthiness should be included in the tough new chain of responsibility laws,” he said.

The trial safety scheme — conducted this year — found another 151 trucks had faulty lights and reflectors. The trial followed horrific incidents involving out-of-control trucks on the South Eastern Freeway.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan said the rollout of a permanent scheme was necessary to keep unroadworthy trucks off SA roads.

“Tragic accidents such as these show just how dangerous unroadworthy trucks can be for anyone on the road,” Mr Mullighan said.

“Some heavy vehicles can go through their entire lives without ever being checked for roadworthiness.

Police and safety authorities conduct a random check on a truck at Monteith on the Princess Highway in 2015. Picture: Mark Brake

“Most drivers and operators do the right thing but when someone flouts the law, they don’t simply risk their own lives, but the lives of all road users around them.”

The pilot scheme — funded by the Transport Department — required all heavy vehicles of more than three years of age to undergo an inspection at change of ownership.

Mr Mullighan said the scheme would deliver up to 100 jobs, at a yet-to-be-determined cost, but it’s expected it will be funded by an increase in fines and expiation notices. Tender documents estimate 62,000 inspections will be conducted each year — well above the 42,000-48,000 heavy vehicles in the state — because of the predicted failure rate.

The scheme was among reforms that followed a series of South Eastern Freeway crashes, including tougher penalties for speeding truck drivers, and those who drive in high gears.

What the trial safety scheme found

900 trucks inspected.

A failure rate of 58 per cent (522 trucks).

151 had faulty lights or reflectors.

Just more than 100 of trucks had issues with brakes.