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

Compliance stops are popping up on Great Southern roads to ensure vehicles meet safety standards as harvest gets into gear across the region.

Great Southern police launched a safety standards of operation last week in partnership with the Department of Transport, Main Roads WA and WorkSafe.

Transport inspectors can run checks on the weight of haulage, the couplings and other compliance matters.

Great Southern Police District head of traffic Sen. Sgt Derek Grimes said police would be conducting random drug, alcohol and licence tests.

“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.”

Sen. Sgt Grimes said the stops were not designed to be a free safety check for heavy vehicles or vehicles towing a load.

But it showed they were not setting out to simply “slap infringements” on drivers.

“We will provide advice, however appropriate, in relation to the safety of vehicles and will enforce fines where necessary,” he said.

“During this operation we will be travelling throughout the Great Southern ... it will roll out over the next few weeks at different locations and different times.”