Vehicle compliance checks for road safety carried out across region as harvest rolls around

Albany police have joined forces with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, conducting a vehicle compliance operation that targets road safety as the region heads into harvest season.

Overseen by Great Southern Police District head of traffic Sen. Sgt Derek Grimes, the operation began on Monday with the aim of ensuring heavy and light commercial vehicles meet safety requirements.

Albany’s operation took place at Centennial Park on Tuesday, with other locations around the region to be targeted in the coming weeks.

“The aim is to have vehicles on the road that are safe for the driver and for everyone else on the road,” Sen. Sgt Grimes said.

“There was a focus on general vehicle standard looking at the weight of heavy haulage, if couplings were correct, trailers are of the correct standard, as well as random breath tests, drug tests and licence checks.”

“After inspection we provided advice so that any errors and failures in the vehicle can be rectified and corrected, with some errors resulting in cautions or enforcement.”

Sen. Sgt Grimes said the operation was important to help mitigate hazards with harvest starting across the region.

“We started this because it’s important at this time of year given the grain season and harvest, that the trucks are all safe and drivers are carting grain under the correct weight,” he said.

“It also extends to light commercial vehicles and people towing caravans and trailers that the weight they are carrying is correct for the standard of that vehicle and towage.”