Latest news with #heavyvehicles
Free Malaysia Today
28-05-2025
- General
- Free Malaysia Today
JPJ alarmed by spike in heavy vehicles hogging fast lane
Heavy vehicles are prohibited from using the right lane under Rule 4A of the Road Traffic Rules 1959. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The road transport department (JPJ) has expressed concern over a spike in heavy vehicles illegally using the right lanes of highways, posing a higher risk of serious accidents. JPJ director-general Aedy Fadly Ramli said there was an increase in goods vehicles and public service vehicles using the fast lane, with 800 cases reported in 2024. As of April, JPJ had issued 220 summonses for the offence, Bernama reported. 'This trend is worrying. When these vehicles are on the right lane, it means they are likely exceeding their speed limits, which are supposed to be between 80km/h and 90km/h. 'There is evidence that some are going over 100km/h. This has been a key factor in many accidents involving heavy vehicles,' he said. Aedy said heavy vehicles were prohibited from using the right lane under Rule 4A of the Road Traffic Rules 1959. He said stricter enforcement would be carried out.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Automotive
- ABC News
Mount Crosby overpass reopens after truck crashes into bridge on Warrego Highway
The damage bill from a truck crash on a major Queensland highway is expected to run into the tens of millions of dollars, and some warn it could happen again unless upgrades are fast-tracked. A truck carrying parts of a wind turbine struck the Mount Crosby Bridge on the Warrego Highway near Ipswich about 1:40am on Friday, after reportedly failing to follow escort vehicles onto an off-ramp. The crash forced the closure of the highway's westbound lanes for two-and-a-half days, disrupting freight and local traffic. One lane on the overpass reopened Tuesday, but the bridge won't be able to carry heavy vehicles until permanent repairs are completed. A Queensland police spokesperson said investigations into the crash were continuing. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the community was relieved to see the highway reopen. "There was a lot of anxiety in our community that this was going to take some time to repair," she said. "Our experience with bridge strikes is they can take over a year [to repair]." Ms Harding said she understood the bill would be "at least tens of millions of dollars". "I understand that [the Department of Transport and Main Roads] will be billing the responsible or the liable organisation for that," she said. The Warrego Highway is a major freight highway that links south-east Queensland to Toowoomba, the Darling Downs and Maranoa region. It connects to other highways, connecting to Mount Isa and the Northern Territory and is a major inland freight route. According to TMR, about 30,000 vehicles use the westbound section of the highway every day. Freight industry advocates said the crash was part of a larger problem — a fragile network that can't handle the increasing number of oversized vehicle movements linked to Queensland's energy and construction boom. The truck was carrying parts of a wind turbine bound for a wind farm construction site in south-west Queensland. Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE), which works closely with energy and freight companies as the economic development body for the Darling Downs region, has been campaigning for upgrades to the Warrego Highway for several years. Strategic Partnerships manager Lance MacManus said there were many "inefficiencies" on that part of the highway. "There's been over 2,500 of those heavy traffic movements like that wind tower that we've seen [on the Warrego] since 2019 and we have more to come for wind farms," he said. "We'll probably see that again in the next 18 months. Unfortunately, this was just a really, really public accident." Deficiencies discovered in the nearby Bremer River Bridge forced speed limits to be reduced for all motorists and weight limits introduced for trucks. Oversized heavy vehicles must travel late at night and switch to the eastbound lane when travelling west — closing the highway to all other traffic — and exit and re-enter the highway at the Mount Crosby Bridge due to height restrictions. TMR is currently working on an $85 million project to strengthen the river bridge. Mr MacManus said the detour created added cost for businesses, who he said worked safely and reliably. "The optimal opportunity would be to be able to travel from the Port [of Brisbane] out to site along the Warrego travelling at 80kph with pilot vehicles," he said. "Unfortunately, this [incident] came about because we're trying to create a work around." His colleague, TSBE strategic communications manager Katie Craymer, said it was unknown at this stage when movements would be allowed to return to normal, as current works were just a band-aid fix. "What they're doing at the moment is remedial, they're just trying to keep it up … but it's not going to actually fix it, so even when they finish those remedial works, it's not going to be up to a point where it's going to be better," she said. "It's on life support essentially. "We need visibility to the long-term solution." Ms Craymer said there were many sections of the Warrego Highway, such as the Glenore Grove crossroads in the Lockyer Valley, which get cut off due to flooding, and there was another bridge near Miles that needed urgent upgrades. "The Warrego Highway is actually the second most trafficked highway in Queensland behind the Bruce, so it's not insignificant," she said. She said she wanted to see similar investment as was promised for the Bruce Highway. Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the "lack of detail" around works at the Bremer River Bridge, and planned upgrades to the Mount Crosby Bridge and intersection, needed to be sorted quickly. "So far we don't know when the work's going to start and we don't know when it's going to finish, so there's again a bit of anxiety around our community," she said. Transport Minister Brett Mickelberg said there had been a "considerable effort" by all involved to reopen the highway after the wind turbine crash. "Our focus now shifts to making sure the overpass is restored as quickly as possible," he said. "There is considerable damage to the bridge which has been rectified so that it is safe but it won't be able to carry heavy loads until it is repaired properly." The Department of Transport and Main Roads was contacted for comment.
Malay Mail
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Malay Mail
One death every 36 hours in Malaysia from lorry crashes, with speeding and poor maintenance key causes, study shows
KUALA LUMPUR, May 18 — A new study has revealed that fatal road accidents involving heavy vehicles like lorries and trailers have claimed at least 1,457 lives over the past six years, with highways emerging as the deadliest routes. At least one life is lost every 36 hours due to fatal accidents involving lorries or trailers. Harian Metro (HM) reported that the study by the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) found that lorry accidents on highways are more likely to result in fatalities compared to other roads such as Federal roads, state roads, and municipal roads. Factors such as high speed and overloaded lorries contribute to a higher risk of fatality, especially when accidents occur on bends. Road safety activist Datuk Mohamad Hisham Shafe said the 1,457 deaths were linked to 3,500 lorry accidents nationwide over the six-year period. The average frequency was one lorry accident every 2,164 minutes — or roughly every one day and 12 hours. He noted that accidents involving heavy vehicles carry a higher fatality risk due to their size and collision impact. He also highlighted 473 serious injuries and 1,076 minor injuries linked to such crashes. 'Lorries are heavy vehicles that cause significant impact during collisions, especially when travelling at high speeds on highways,' he told HM yesterday. Hisham said long working hours often lead to driver fatigue, while excessive workloads and unbalanced cargo contribute to vehicle instability. He added that many lorries do not undergo proper maintenance, affecting their long-distance performance. 'Mechanical failure in lorries is one of the main causes of road accidents, and it's not a new issue — in fact, it has often been raised by the authorities. 'Miros studies have also revealed that only 32 per cent of public transport and commercial vehicle operators complied with the Industrial Code of Practice for Transport Safety (ICOP) in 2022,' he was quoted as saying. Hisham said these figures reflect a lack of seriousness in commercial vehicle safety, with some operators continuing to skip maintenance checks and use retreaded tyres.
Malay Mail
15-05-2025
- Malay Mail
Revoke licences, not just fine drivers, Selangor Sultan says after fatal FRU crash in Perak
SHAH ALAM, May 15 — The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has urged the government to take serious heed of road accidents, particularly those involving heavy vehicles. In a post on the Selangor Royal Office Facebook page, His Royal Highness said that in view of the increasing number of accidents and similar tragedies, firmer and more immediate action must be taken by the authorities to address the matter. The Ruler expressed that if any party is found guilty and responsible for fatal accidents or incidents causing serious injuries, the drivers and company owners of heavy vehicles involved should not only be fined or imprisoned, but their driving licences should also be revoked. He said that such action would serve as a lesson to other drivers to be more cautious and to give undivided attention while driving. In the same post, the monarch and Tengku Permaisuri of Selangor, Tengku Hajah Norashikin, conveyed their condolences to the families of the nine Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel who perished in the horrific accident in Teluk Intan, Perak, on Tuesday. Their Royal Highnesses also expressed sadness and sorrow over the heartbreaking tragedy that befell all the victims involved. In the 8 am incident on Tuesday, nine FRU personnel were killed and eight others injured after the truck they were travelling in collided with a lorry carrying a load of stones at the junction of Jalan Chikus-Sungai Lampam, Teluk Intan. Sultan Sharafuddin further urged companies operating lorries, buses and heavy vehicles to conduct strict evaluations in selecting drivers and assistants, and reminded all parties not to take lightly matters that could lead to negligence such as vehicle condition and driver qualifications. 'His Royal Highness hopes and prays that such tragic accidents will no longer occur, especially those involving the loss of innocent lives, particularly among those serving for the nation's peace,' the post read. — Bernama
CNA
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
CNA938 Rewind - Vesak Day celebrations include numerous charitable and outreach efforts
CNA938 Rewind - 24 heavy vehicle drivers caught for not displaying speed limiter labels in recent three-day operation Under the law, heavy vehicles with a maximum laden weight exceeding 12 tonnes must be fitted with speed limiters. Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak to Professor Raymond Ong, Transport Analyst and Deputy Head (Research), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, NUS, to find out more. 12 mins CNA938 Rewind - Vesak Day celebrations include numerous charitable and outreach efforts Did you know Buddhism is the largest religion in Singapore, according to the 2020 Singapore Census? Lance Alexander and Daniel Martin speak to Saw Cheng Boon, President of Buddha's Light International Association (Singapore) to find out how the day is observed in Singapore and around the world. 15 mins CNA938 Rewind - Bar hopping abroad with mixologists from Manhattan & Origin Bar In 'Destination Anywhere', Melanie Oliveiro discovers the F&B travel adventures of two mixologists/bartenders in Singapore. Cherry Lee, bartender from Origin Bar, Shangri-La will recall her bar travels to Hong Kong and Korea which she finds busy and dynamic. Zana Möhlmann – Manhattan's head bartender - will talk about the party scene and bar snacks culture of The Netherlands where she's from. Being half-Surinamese, she will talk about Suriname cuisine and how it blends five different cultures together. Both are involved in the Diageo World Class competition - the largest and most respected bartending competition for bartenders by Diageo Bar Academy. 19 mins CNA938 Rewind - Explore mental wellness and eye-catching art at Paragon Shopping Mall In 'Made in SG', Melanie Oliveiro speaks with the key people involved in shopping mall Paragon's 'Spring Soiree' campaign. The campaign transforms the mall into a sanctuary of art, nature, and wellness – in support of mental health causes. Koh Pei Li, a renowned Singaporean artist fronting her brand PeiPer, talks about 'Blooming Windmill', a 4.5-metre-tall windmill flower installation symbolising various mental health messages. Mosscape's creative director, Shannon Eng, will describe 'A Botanical Escape' an 18-metre landscape featuring greenery and intricate floral arrangements. Paragon's centre manager, Chan Shuk Ling, will highlight other installations and workshops available to visitors, beyond those led by PeiPer and Mosscape. 33 mins
