09.52 am, Sunday November 22 2009

Truckies flying blind under the radar

16:25 AEST Sun Dec 16 2007
AAP
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The NSW opposition has called for more police patrols and the automatic suspension of rogue truck drivers who avoid speed cameras by driving without lights.

Police have recorded 20 to 30 incidents involving truck drivers turning off their headlights, overhead and interior lights at night as they speed past the Safetycam speed cameras at the NSW-Victoria border checkpoint, Fairfax reports.

Two of three drivers caught within an hour on Tuesday night by Albury police were driving without lights at 100km/h in their 50-tonne prime movers, police said.

NSW opposition Roads spokesman Andrew Fraser said cameras alone were not enough to guarantee safety on NSW roads.

"I'm calling on the NSW government to send a strong message to these rogue truck drivers who recklessly flout the law and risk the safety of other motorists by travelling without their lights on - they must have their licences suspended on the spot," Mr Fraser said.

"There is no bigger deterrent to illegal behaviour on the roads than to put more police on patrol."

He said there were fewer highway patrol officers on NSW roads now than in 1984.

"AS thousands of families prepare to travel on NSW roads over this holiday season, the Iemma government must do all it can to ensure motorists' safety and this means boosting police highway patrol numbers."

But NSW Police Minister David Campbell claimed police were on top of the issue of catching rogue drivers.

"Safetycam is an important road safety tool and it is a disgrace that people would seek to avoid it," Mr Campbell told reporters.

"But the good news is that police are cracking down, police are catching them and that means the police are out there doing what the community expects - seeking to enforce the road rules.

"My guess is it's a minority of drivers as always, a few doing the wrong thing," he said.

 
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