A truck driver based in Victoria has claimed he received a speeding warning from the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator after a faulty reading on a Safe-T-Cam.
Shane Buck, who has been an owner driver for 38 years, said it’s “not possible” that his truck was going as fast as the speed recorded by the camera.
“They said my truck was doing 106.21km an hour on flat ground in Wallan, going northbound,” he told Big Rigs.
“That’s not possible. I have three different GPSs.
“The maximum my truck can go to on my limiter is 101.5km an hour.
“To be able to record me at 106.21km, the camera is faulty.”
Buck says he has a clean record, and while he is not being fined for this offence, he still doesn’t want it on file.
“There’s no fine yet but they said if I do it again they’ll pass it on to compliance. So that’s on my record now.
“I have contacted the NHVR to have it reviewed because I don’t want that on my record.
“I’m also looking for other truck drivers this might have happened to.
“Another guy told me that he was in breach after another camera said he was doing 117km! He got it sorted though because that was obviously wrong.”
He is frustrated that his letter of warning was sent five weeks after the alleged speeding offence occurred on September 26 – and by that time his evidence that he had done nothing wrong was gone.
“I don’t have evidence other than telling them about my GPS readings because it took five weeks for the NHVR to send out the notice, and by that time my dash cam GPS had already been overwritten.
“I don’t download my dash cam unless I need it.
“However there is a speed camera only 180m past this Safe-T-Cam. If I had been speeding, it would have issued a fine and demerit points at 106km.
“I understand that these things can happen, but the request for review should be easier or more welcomed.”
The Safe-T-Cam network is a network of digital cameras that monitor the movement of heavy vehicles.
The NHVR says they detect and provide data on heavy vehicle incidents relating to vehicles that are unregistered and/or uninsured, fatigue offences relating to travel between two or more cameras, attempts to avoid detection at camera sites and failures to enter inspection stations.
Big Rigs has approached NHVR for comment.
Update – November 10, 3.50pm:
NHVR acting director of operations southern region, Steven Miller, said the NHVR does not undertake or control Safe-T Cam compliance and enforcement activities in Victoria. These operations are currently limited to NSW and South Australia.
“To ensure the safety of all road users, the NHVR monitors for potential speed non-compliance in Victoria using information supplied by state compliance assets, to identify where there may potentially be breaches,” Miller said.
This compliance technology is calibrated – as required under the law – to a level appropriate for compliance purposes and is managed by the Victorian Department of Transport.
“Following a potential breach, the NHVR will reach out to the operator for further information, as we did in this case. Mr Buck’s concerns around the accuracy of the data, as in any case, will be passed on to the Victorian Department of Transport.”
Miller said small delays can occur in the issuing of letters, subject to when the NHVR receives and analyses the data.
“At the NHVR, our priority is safer roads, and safer drivers. Camera enforcement not only enhances our compliance activities but increases efficiency for compliant heavy vehicle drivers.
If an operator wishes to respond to a letter of warning, they can do so via the email address or phone number provided in the letter. The NHVR routinely reviews any case which is raised with us and will provide further information if contacted by a specific issue.”
Yes mate I have had a call from my Boss that he also received a warning letter for doing 107 but the truck doesn’t do that much it was from Wallan north bound aswell
Is it possible that the route between the two cameras has been shortened since the last calibration, or is the truck driver not following the expected route.
I’d also expect if the driver is cutting bends it may be giving a higher than indicated on dashboard speed being based on averages..