Australia's NHVR operation finds 9.6% heavy trucks speeding or tampering with limiters

The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) and state police carried out Operation Quicksilver, a coordinated national crackdown on heavy‑vehicle speed excesses and illegal speed‑limiter modifications across New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria. More than 2,000 vehicle intercepts were performed, revealing a 9.6 % non‑compliance rate for speeding or limiter tampering; one truck had been altered to reach speeds of up to 250 km/h.

NHVR chief operations officer Paul Salvati warned that even a few kilometres above the limit can be the difference between life and death, noting that speeding is the leading factor in the Fatal Five road‑death causes. He urged drivers and industry participants to report any pressure to exceed limits and said the regulator will ground fleets or prosecute offenders where safety is at risk.