A month long blitz has begun as police and authorities target unsafe truckers in an attempt to stop drink driving, speeding and other unsafe practices associated with truckers. The crackdown began as vehicle inspectors along the Monaro Highway began pulling over trucks in an operation codenamed AUSTRANS. The operation which has run annually since 1989 involves a range of road, transport and safety authorities throughout Australia and New Zealand. A report by SafetyCulture.com.au explains: ACT Police and road authorities have this week conducted a crackdown on truck drivers in the territory, as part of a month-long blitz to stamp out drink driving, fatigue, speeding, and unsound mechanical practices in the industry. Vehicle inspectors were pulling over trucks along the Monaro Highway, testing drivers for alcohol and drugs, and checking vehicles for weight, brakes and load compliance. The crackdown was part of a blitz on the heavy vehicle industry, codenamed Operation AUSTRANS. Last year’s operation resulted in eight drivers being fined for load restraint issues and other offences, while a further 12 vehicles were given defect notices. Inspections will be conducted randomly around the territory until the end of May, and Traffic Operations Sergeant Rod Anderson warned truckies to obey the law while on Canberra’s streets. ”We’re looking at fatigue, seat belts, speeding and drink driving or drug-affected drivers,” Sergeant Anderson said. ”We are a hub for NSW, so we do attract a lot of heavy vehicle traffic, and we want to make sure they are complying with the road rules,” he said. Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/05/nsw-crackdown-on-dangerous-trucks/ According to authorities, while not all truck drivers are guilty of these offences, truckers are being targeted because of the sheer size of their vehicles which could result in even bigger disasters than ordinary vehicles if something went wrong. Fatigue is also a major problem that authorities aim to stamp out. The post by SafetyCulture.com.au goes on to state: Sergeant Anderson said truck drivers were safe on the whole, but the consequences of dangerous driving in the industry were far greater. ”It can have more serious consequences because of the size of the vehicles, and that’s why we’re undertaking this operation,” he said. Sergeant Anderson said the Monaro Highway was a road used frequently by truck drivers passing through the territory. ”It does carry a large number of heavy vehicles, so we’re targeting people here at this section together with motor vehicle inspectors,” he said. Operation AUSTRANS recorded 15,705 total offences involving truck drivers across Australia and New Zealand during May last year. Source: http://www.safetyculture.com.au/news/index.php/05/nsw-crackdown-on-dangerous-trucks/ Last year’s operation resulted in a staggering 15,705 charges being laid. Authorities hope this number will drop this year, however things are not looking good at the moment. A report by police indicates 5 truckers have been arrested for drug driving alone. According to Sapolicenews.com.au: On 5 May 2012, a 44-year-old man from Salisbury Downs was driving a Road Train on Port Wakefield Rd, Burton when stopped returned positive drug test (methamphetamine).  He was also reported re breaches relating to the assembling / disassembling of road trains in undesignated areas. On 6 May 2012, a 54-year-old man from Dublin was driving a road train at Lafitte Road, Wingfield when stopped. He returned positive drug test (methamphetamine).  On the same day, a 41 year old male was driving a road train on the Eyre Highway, Ceduna.  He was stopped and returned positive drug test for methamphetamine. On 10 May 2012, a 49-year-old man from Craigmore was driving semi-trailer on Chamberlain Road, Wingfield. He returned positive drug test for cannabis. The semi-trailer was inspected and four out of the six brakes on the trailer were found to be inoperable. On the same day, a 29-year-old man was driving a road train on the Eyre Highway, Ceduna.  He was stopped and returned positive drug test for methamphetamine. On 10 May 2012, a 42-year-old man was driving a B-double on Portrush Road, Marden.  He was stopped and returned positive drug test for methamphetamine. As previously reported, on Thursday 10 May, just after 5pm, a police patrol stopped the road train on the Eyre Highway, about 50km west of Ceduna.  The driver, a 28-year-old Western Australia man, tested positive to drugs and was grounded for 24 hours. The road train was defected after the patrol found the speed limiter had been tampered with. Source: http://www.sapolicenews.com.au/more-news/7836-drug-driving-truckies.html However these are just a few of the chain of responsibility prosecutions that have been made this year. According to police this year’s AUSTRANS operation will be focussing on drug driving as police intelligence has reason to believe that the use of methamphetamine and other illicit drugs by transport drivers is prevalent and frequently coinciding with driving long hours. According to police 228 people died during June 2010-June 2011 from 201 crashes involving heavy vehicles. That is why police aim to reduce illegal activity in the industry and ensure safety standards and procedures are adhered to. For more information, go to https://www.anzpaa.org.au/current-initiatives/operation-austrans