Police in Adelaide are highly concerned about the number of defects discovered during a 2 week blitz last week.

South Australian Police expressed their disappointment in the number of defect notices they were forced to issue while carrying out their latest truck safety initiative dubbed “Operation Wayward”.

The blitz ran for only 2 days but it was long enough for Heavy Vehicle Enforcement Officers and the Western Adelaide Traffic Enforcement Section to issue almost 100 defect notices. Officers from the Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure also joined in on the 2 day operation.

Astonishingly two-thirds of the heavy vehicles pulled over were issued defect notices. There were 99 defects discovered in total and perhaps even more concerning is the fact that 92 of these defects were for major issues such as brakes, suspension and steering problems. One man was even charged with drug trafficking.

To think this is the percentage of heavy vehicle drivers being put at risk by driving defective vehicles every day on SA roads is shocking and even more shocking is the number of other innocent road users who are often caught in the aftermath of heavy vehicle incidents caused by a lack of maintenance and failure to abide by the Chain of Responsibility.

During the operation only 4 defects were classified as minor and could be cleared at a nominated police station because of tyre defects. An additional 3 defects were issued as formal cautions only.

A report about the operation was posted on Fullyloaded.com.au, the article had more to say about the defects discovered during the blitz:

Detective Inspector Peter Duance, Investigations Manager of the Traffic Support Branch, says “the fact that 66 per cent of heavy goods vehicles were defected is worrying.

“This defect rate in heavy goods vehicles examined during Operation Wayward is of concern in terms of road safety and the results indicate the need for similar type collaborative operations in the future.”

Operation Wayward results:

148 heavy vehicles examined

99 defect notices issued

33 expiation notices issued for work diary offences, seatbelt, mobile phones and vehicle standards

1 warrant arrest for drug trafficking

1 positive, methamphetamine.

Source: https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/1310/adelaide-defects-rate-worries-police

Vehicle defects seem to be the biggest problem relating to Adelaide’s heavy vehicles although police said the high level of defects was concerning but that there had been improvements in the area of load security.

According to Sergeant Dicker, the improvements in the area of securing loads was most likely due to changes which resulted in responsibility for securing loads being shared between those who are responsible for loading the vehicle as well as the driver. This is good because in the past only one entity carried most of the blame for badly secured loads.

Sgt. Dicker also warned other heavy vehicle operators and drivers that these types of operations will continue over the course of the year and truck drivers should be prepared and expect for their vehicles to be inspected quite often on SA roads.