Oversize trucks in NSW tunnels to be hit with $4000 fine in crackdown on traffic chaos

People who drive over-height trucks into tunnels will be hit with an on-the-spot fine of $4097 in New South Wales as the state government cracks down on careless drivers.

It comes after several recent incidents left tunnels blocked and traffic stalled in Sydney.

Other heavy penalties, including a six-month suspension for both driver's licences, and truck registration, will also apply.

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"Good drivers know the height of their truck and stick to the tunnel height limit," Roads Minister John Graham said.

"Unfortunately, a small minority of drivers are holding the city to ransom."

The state government has also asked the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR) to work closely with Transport for NSW to initiate more investigations and bring charges against trucking companies and owners under "aggravated circumstances" provisions.

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Graham said prosecutions of companies under the rules, including heavy vehicle chain of responsibility provisions, had so far been limited.

"My message to that handful of bad drivers and their truck companies is you will be hit with the harshest penalties possible, more often," he said.

Additionally, the government will spend $5 million on upgrading sensors, signage and enhanced slipways to help prevent blockages.

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For the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, this will involve moving warning signs and sensors further back along the Warringah Freeway to ensure heavy vehicle drivers can take earlier evasive action to avoid blocking traffic at the tunnel portal or worse.

This work will start in July and is intended to be completed by December.

"One thing I do not want to do, is to close the Harbour tunnel for the vast majority of good truck drivers," Graham said.

"That would simply send trucks into our suburbs, creating city-wide chaos and congestion."

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