‘Operation Juggernaut’ nets overloaders in volume

Almost half of heavies fined TRAFFIC OFFICIALS issued fines for nearly half of the heavy vehicles that were pulled off the road during November and December last year. According to figures released by the Department of Transport (DoT) in its addendum to the 2004 budget vote, “Operation Juggernaut” was launched in November 2003 to focus and co-ordinate road traffic law enforcement on heavy freight and passenger transport vehicles. During the operation more than 450 000 vehicles were screened. Traffic officers issued over 200 000 fines and took more than two thousand vehicles off the road. The department says its overload control strategy was finalised during 2003, and implementation has begun on elements such as developing a weighbridge infrastructure network, establishing public private partnerships for the provision of this infrastructure, supporting self-regulation by road freight operators, making relevant legislative changes, and developing information management systems. Further support for road safety drives will come from the upgraded eNaTIS information system.