An oversized American-style pickup truck, a GMC Sierra Denali HD weighing 4.5 tonnes and measuring over six meters long, has drawn significant criticism after being spotted on a Melbourne street. The vehicle's imposing size, further amplified by a large bullbar, has led to calls for stricter regulations and warnings about road safety.
Milad Haghani, an associate professor at the University of Melbourne, argued that bullbars on vehicles of this size, particularly in metropolitan areas, should be illegal. "The sheer size of that vehicle aside, the bullbar mounted on it [should be] illegal," Haghani told Drive. He expressed concern that the bullbar, apparently made of steel, could significantly increase the severity of injuries in the event of a collision with a pedestrian. Haghani also noted that such modified vehicles are becoming increasingly common on Australian roads, suggesting a gap in current vehicle accessory regulations.
Concerns about larger vehicles making navigation difficult in urban environments were echoed by Julian O'Shea, a transport commentator from Monash University. "In suburban streets, particularly in older parts of our cities, you'll notice you simply can't pass other vehicles when cars are parked on both sides," O'Shea told Yahoo. "It's already becoming an issue."
Under Australia's Heavy Vehicle National Law, vehicles with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 4.5 tonnes are classified as heavy vehicles. Those weighing between 4.5 and 8 tonnes require drivers to hold a light rigid truck license. Haghani pointed out that determining bullbar compliance visually can be difficult, rendering regulations challenging to enforce.
A Victoria Police spokesman stated that the roadworthiness of a vehicle cannot be determined from a photograph alone and requested specific details of any interception if concerns were to be investigated further.