Heavy Vehicle National Law - Queensland Guideline for Excess Dimension (Form 4) Police Escort Amendment Notice 2018 (No. 1)

Overview

The Police Escort Amendment Notice 2018 (No. 1), enacted under Section 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, was introduced to temporarily modify Queensland Police escort requirements for vehicles carrying indivisible articles, special purpose vehicles, and vehicles requiring a pilot or escort during the 2018 Commonwealth Games. This amendment was necessary to facilitate the safe and efficient movement of heavy vehicles within the state during this significant event. The Notice, which came into effect on the date of its publication, is intended to replace certain police escort requirements with Level 1 pilots or Level 2 escorts suitable for the circumstances. It is important to note that these amendments are temporary and expire on 27 April 2018, ensuring that they only apply for the duration of the Commonwealth Games. The Notice was issued by Roger Garcia, the Acting Executive Director of Access for the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator, with the aim of ensuring that the necessary changes to escort requirements do not hinder the logistics of the Games while maintaining safety standards.

Scope and Application

This Notice, made under Section 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law, serves to temporarily adjust certain police escort requirements outlined in the Guideline for Excess Dimension - Vehicles Carrying Indivisible Articles, Special Purpose Vehicles, Vehicles that require a Pilot or Escort in Queensland, Form 4, Version 8 February 2013. Specifically, the amendments apply to the movement of vehicles with excess dimensions during the period of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, modifying the escort requirements to replace certain police escort needs with Level 1 pilots or Level 2 escorts as suitable for the circumstances. These changes are effective from the date of publication and expire on 27 April 2018. The modifications are intended to facilitate the safe transit of vehicles with indivisible articles and special purposes within Queensland while accommodating the unique demands of the Commonwealth Games. The Notice does not alter the standard escort requirements for all other wide load movements that do not pertain to the Games, ensuring that only specified circumstances during the Games period are subject to these amended provisions.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of this Notice are found in sections 1 to 6. The Notice (sections 1 and 2) is intended to temporarily amend the Queensland Police escort requirements for heavy vehicles carrying indivisible articles, special purpose vehicles, or vehicles that require a pilot or escort (section 1). These amendments are made under Section 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law (section 2). The Notice comes into effect on the date of publication (section 3) and will expire on 27 April 2018 (section 4). The Notice amends the Guideline for Excess Dimension - Vehicles Carrying Indivisible Articles, Special Purpose Vehicles, Vehicles that require a Pilot or Escort in Queensland, Form 4, Version 8 February 2013 (section 5) by inserting new provisions for Commonwealth Games special pilot and escort vehicle requirements (section 6(1)). The new requirements are detailed in Table 1, which outlines different pilot and escort requirements depending on the circumstances of the movement (section 6(1)). The obligations imposed on the parties or entities governed by this Notice include adhering to the new pilot and escort requirements outlined in Table 1. For single loads that require traffic control, the requirements specify that a single police escort plus two Level 2 escorts must be used (section 6(1)). For wide loads travelling in convoy, the normal pilot and escort requirements apply (section 6(1)). The Notice also specifies that additional pilot and/or escort vehicles will take the positions normally occupied by police vehicles as per Form 4 Guideline (section 6(1)). It is important that the parties governed by this Notice ensure that they comply with the new requirements to avoid any potential legal or safety issues. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Notice may result in civil or criminal consequences. The maximum penalties for breaches of the Heavy Vehicle National Law are set out in the law itself and may include fines, imprisonment, or both. It is important that the parties governed by this Notice take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the new requirements to avoid any potential legal or safety issues. In summary, this Notice temporarily amends the Queensland Police escort requirements for heavy vehicles carrying indivisible articles, special purpose vehicles, or vehicles that require a pilot or escort. The amendments are made under Section 23 of Schedule 1 of the Heavy Vehicle National Law and come into effect on the date of publication. The new requirements are detailed in Table 1 and specify different pilot and escort requirements depending on the circumstances of the movement. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Notice may result in civil or criminal consequences, including fines and imprisonment. It is important that the parties governed by this Notice take the necessary steps to ensure compliance with the new requirements to avoid any potential legal or safety issues.