A national enforcement operation has uncovered widespread speeding and illegal speed limiter modifications among heavy vehicles, including one vehicle found with its limiter altered to allow speeds of up to 250km/h.
The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator (NHVR), along with state police agencies, intercepted more than 2,000 heavy vehicles under “Operation Quicksilver”. They found that 9.6 per cent of those vehicles were either non-compliant with speeding regulations or had tampered speed limiters.
Speed limiter tampering under scrutiny
The NHVR said modifying a heavy vehicle’s speed limiter to increase its speed capacity is illegal under the Heavy Vehicle National Law. Doing so creates significant risks for drivers and other road users.
NHVR Chief Operations Officer Paul Salvati said there was no justification for unsafe driving practices, despite the pressures facing the heavy vehicle industry.
“Any large, heavy vehicle travelling even a few kilometres above the speed limit can mean the difference between life or death,” said Mr Salvati.
“Speeding is the number one factor in the Fatal Five and has far too big an impact on Australia’s road toll.”
“Tampering with a heavy vehicle’s speed limiter to increase speed capacity is not only illegal but poses a major safety risk to the driver and all road users.”
The operation uncovered one particularly serious case involving a heavy vehicle with a modified speed limiter that allowed the vehicle to reach speeds of up to 250km/h.
“Where people’s lives are being risked, NHVR officers won’t hesitate to take action like grounding fleets or prosecuting drivers or operators,” explained Mr Salvati.
“This is an issue we take very seriously, and it’s important all of industry does so as well.”
Police join national enforcement effort
Operation Quicksilver marked the first time the NHVR has conducted a nationally coordinated operation targeting speeding and speed limiter tampering alongside policing agencies.
Police agencies from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania participated in the operation.
Queensland Police Service Manager, Specialist Operations, Road Policing Group, Inspector Gareth Bosley said heavy vehicle drivers and operators should expect continued enforcement.
“Speeding and speed limiter tampering are offences that Queensland Police take extremely seriously. Every decision you make behind the wheel matters and deliberately modifying a vehicle to exceed regulated speed limits places lives at risk,” said Inspector Bosley.
“Heavy vehicles, by their very nature, present a significantly greater risk when involved in a crash. Their size, weight and physical characteristics make them more susceptible to speed-induced instability, while the consequences of a collision can be catastrophic for all road users.”
Mr Bosley said Queensland police would continue working with the NHVR to identify unsafe practices among heavy vehicle operators.
“During the operation, members of our Road Policing Taskforce worked alongside NHVR to identify drivers and operators who were doing the wrong thing and putting the safety of others at risk.”
Speed remains a major road safety concern
The NHVR said speeds just over 5km/h above the limit in urban areas and 10km/h above the limit in rural areas may double the risk of a crash, with the same increase in risk associated with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05.
In 2025, Australia recorded 191 fatal heavy vehicle crashes, with approximately 61 per cent occurring in speed zones of 100km/h or above.
The NHVR is encouraging drivers, operators, mechanics, manufacturers and other supply chain participants who suspect a vehicle has been tampered with to report their concerns. They may call the Heavy Vehicle Confidential Reporting Line on 1800 931 785.
“If a driver feels under pressure by their employer to exceed speed limits, there are other options like confidential reporting that must be used rather than resorting to an unlawful tactic,” said Mr Salvati.
“Anyone who might be concerned a vehicle has been tampered with, including drivers, operators, mechanics, manufacturers or members of the supply chain, should speak up.”
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