Heavy vehicle speeds annoy cop

PAKENHAM’S top traffic cop has pleaded with heavy vehicle owners to slow down, after he intercepted both bus and truck driver speeding within 15 minutes of each other.
Sergeant Nigel Atkins was appalled to clock both motorists at least 10km/h above the speed limit on the Princes Highway at Officer.
The bus driver was travelling at 90km/h in the 80km/h zone at 10.26am on Thursday, while the truck driver was caught doing 92km/h in the same spot about 15 minutes later.
The bus driver, a 37-year-old Pakenham man, was fined $193 and lost one demerit point, but Sgt Atkins said the penalty would’ve been worse if there were people on the bus.
“The charges would’ve been more serious if the bus was laden with people. He has a duty of care and he has to abide by the Transport Act,” he said.
The truck driver, a 47-year-old Officer man, was fined $301 and lost three demerit points.
Sgt Atkins said it was alarming that local drivers of heavy vehicles weren’t heeding continual police warnings.
“They are locals; they should know about the warnings we have been giving out,” he said.
“Both are in charge of heavy vehicles which can cause devastating destruction and fatal consequences.”