For several years now, the Czechs have been working on a solution that will allow them to spot overloaded trucks on motorways and automatically issue fines. The launch of the system is clearly delayed, but on two roads the scales are ready and will soon be activated.
According to the Ministry’s spokeswoman, dynamic scales are ready on two motorways and will be launched soon. They are mounted on the 105th kilometre of the D5 and the 5th kilometre of the D8. Soon the third scale will be installed on the D35 as well. In total, there will be a dozen or so such devices in the Czech Republic. The whole system is currently being tested and should be operational within the next three months.
How will the system work?
The system will record the weight of the passing vehicle. Using the camera, it will read the vehicle registration numbers, which will then be compared with the truck’s GVW. This will allow it to determine whether a violation has occurred. If the vehicle is overloaded, the local authorities will initiate appropriate proceedings. The carrier will receive a fine by post.
Delay in system activation
According to a report recently published by the Supreme Audit Office of the Czech Republic (SAO), the Ministry of Transport is delaying the installation of scales on motorways that were supposed to prevent road damage from overweight vehicles, the Czech portal denik.cz reads.
The equipment was to be operational as early as 2016 and 2017, but the Czech Road and Motorway Directorate (RMD) launched 5 scales on local roads only in autumn last year.
The rapid measuring system for heavy goods vehicles on motorways is technically more demanding than on other types of road due to the congestion on these roads,” said Ministry spokeswoman Lenka Rezkova.
Photo: ITD