❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding the transportation of oversized prefabricated houses without escorts on the North West Coastal Highway, and the Minister's response outlining permit requirements and offering further investigation with more information.
AnsweredQoN 1089Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
On Wednesday 15 July 2009 a large number of half prefabricated houses were transported, without escort, up the North West coastal highway between Carnarvon and Manilya. These loads were covering half the road extending over the centre line of the road and causing great difficulty to other road users. These vehicle loads were also approximately four metres high. A number of vehicles including coaches and caravans were blown off the road onto the verge by these vehicles. When asked by radio why the trucks had no escort or were travelling at such speed, the truck drivers replied that they were not required by law to have escorts or have any extra restriction in speed, and I ask -
(1) Are vehicles carrying half houses or loads that exceed the lane width required to have escorts or advance warning?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) If yes to (1), -
(a) will the Minister investigate why these half houses were not escorted and travelling at such speed;
(b) will the Minister initiate action against the companies and truckers involved; and
(c) and the incident is confirmed, will the Minister ensure that all companies and trucking firms are reminded of their legal requirements in this regard?
(1) Are vehicles carrying half houses or loads that exceed the lane width required to have escorts or advance warning?
(2) If no to (1) why not?
(3) If yes to (1), -
(a) will the Minister investigate why these half houses were not escorted and travelling at such speed;
(b) will the Minister initiate action against the companies and truckers involved; and
(c) and the incident is confirmed, will the Minister ensure that all companies and trucking firms are reminded of their legal requirements in this regard?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 September 2009
Responded by
Minister for Transport
Response time
36 days
(1) The requirement for escorts, or advance warning, is dependent on the size of the load.
The Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2002 provide for the Commissioner of Main Roads to issue permits for oversize loads. Consistent with nationally agreed standards, the following requirements apply with respect to permitting and piloting of oversize loads:
· Loads up to 2.5 metres wide - No Permit / No Pilot Required
· Loads from 2.5 to 3.5 metres wide - Permit Required / No Pilot
· Loads from 3.5 to 4.5 metres wide - Permit Required / One Pilot
· Loads from 4.5 to 5.5 metres wide - Permit Required / Two Pilots
· Loads over 5.5 metres wide are assessed and conditioned on a case by case basis.
These and other requirements, including those pertaining to the use of warning devices, are fully articulated in the Operating Conditions that form part of the relevant permit.
(2) Without more specific information on the size of the loads in question, it is difficult to say whether or not escorts (or pilots) would have been required in this instance.
(3)(a) With more information, I would be happy to have the Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Operations Branch investigate the matter further.
As permits are issued against vehicle registrations, critical to any such investigation would be a registration number to enable the responsible person(s) to be identified.
With regard to your reference to speed, the maximum speed for oversize vehicle combinations is 100 km/h for vehicles up to 3.5 m wide, and 80 km/h if over 3.5 m wide, except where the posted speed limit is lower.
(3)(b) Any action initiated would be dependent on the results of further investigation.
(3)(c) The legal requirement for which companies and trucking firms are to comply are clearly articulated in the Operating Conditions of their relevant permit. As such and without further information, I do not consider an additional reminder to industry to be warranted.
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The Road Traffic (Vehicle Standards) Regulations 2002 provide for the Commissioner of Main Roads to issue permits for oversize loads. Consistent with nationally agreed standards, the following requirements apply with respect to permitting and piloting of oversize loads:
· Loads up to 2.5 metres wide - No Permit / No Pilot Required
· Loads from 2.5 to 3.5 metres wide - Permit Required / No Pilot
· Loads from 3.5 to 4.5 metres wide - Permit Required / One Pilot
· Loads from 4.5 to 5.5 metres wide - Permit Required / Two Pilots
· Loads over 5.5 metres wide are assessed and conditioned on a case by case basis.
These and other requirements, including those pertaining to the use of warning devices, are fully articulated in the Operating Conditions that form part of the relevant permit.
(2) Without more specific information on the size of the loads in question, it is difficult to say whether or not escorts (or pilots) would have been required in this instance.
(3)(a) With more information, I would be happy to have the Main Roads Heavy Vehicle Operations Branch investigate the matter further.
As permits are issued against vehicle registrations, critical to any such investigation would be a registration number to enable the responsible person(s) to be identified.
With regard to your reference to speed, the maximum speed for oversize vehicle combinations is 100 km/h for vehicles up to 3.5 m wide, and 80 km/h if over 3.5 m wide, except where the posted speed limit is lower.
(3)(b) Any action initiated would be dependent on the results of further investigation.
(3)(c) The legal requirement for which companies and trucking firms are to comply are clearly articulated in the Operating Conditions of their relevant permit. As such and without further information, I do not consider an additional reminder to industry to be warranted.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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