2020-01-16
Trucks are regularly ignoring the truck bans in place on residential streets, despite assurances by the Government that this would no longer be the case.
The Victorian Greens recently obtained FOI data on how many trucks had been ignoring the bans in place on inner west residential streets (in this instance, Hyde St in Yarraville).
Through this request the Greens found that:
- Trucks were regularly ignoring the bans, with 47 trucks driving past houses in just one night
- While trucks with destinations on Hyde St and trucks with special permits were exempt from the ban, the sheer number of trucks indicated that many were ignoring the ban
- That the penalties for those bans didn’t seem to be enforced. VicRoads couldn’t find any data on the issuing of fines or other enforcement action in relation to these breaches
This data comes despite the fact that the Government spent hundreds of thousands of dollars installing cameras on these streets to monitor any breaches of the bans.
Victorian Greens spokesperson for transport, Sam Hibbins, said the Government had promised that the impending West Gate Tunnel would get trucks off of residential streets.
But if dozens of trucks are defying the bans now, and not being penalised for it, what’s to stop them once the Tunnel is open?
Quotes attributable to Victorian Greens spokesperson for transport, Sam Hibbins MP:
"The Victorian Labor Government has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on what seems now to have been a cosmetic solution to a real problem.
"Installing surveillance cameras only works if you’re going to actually use them. Until then dozens of trucks will continue to roar through residential streets at all hours of the night.
"The West Gate Tunnel has been pitched as another silver bullet solution, but if the Government has failed to reduce the number of trucks on our streets using their cameras, how can residents be sure this will be any different?
"A good Government would adequately monitor and enforce the existing truck bans to give those living on these residential streets peace of mind, rather than stepping back and hoping for the best."