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Operator had total disregar for vehicle maintenance
Page 31
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An operator who ran a truck with no accelerator pedal had his licer
revoked immediately by a horrified TC. Michael Jewell reports.
AN OPERATOR WHO FAILED to turn up for a public inquiry is facing a lengthy disqualification after North Eastern Traffic Commissioner Tom Macartney said it was "horrifying" that there had been no safety inspections since March.
The TC was told that Michael Ker, trading as First Quote Pallets of Gateshead, had totally disregarded the maintenance of the three vehicles authorised on his restricted licence.
Vehicle examiner Wilf Johns said he had carried out a maintenance investigation in July following the issue of an immediate S-marked prohibition during a roadside check.
Dangerous vehicle The check had revealed tyres offences; the accelerator pedal was missing with its arm sticking in the down position. Ker was being prosecuted for using a dangerous vehicle.
Johns examined two vehicles in July, issuing two defect notices. The tachograph calibration certificates of both vehicles had expired. A van had been given a delayed prohibition in a mobile check. All four vehicles were being operated without current test certificates.
There was no forward planning system. The vehicles were supposed to be inspected by a garage every six months but no vehicles had been presented for inspection since the end of March. There was no system available for drivers to report defects.
Ker had shown a total disregard for the maintenance of his vehicles. Johns added: "He just seemed to trundle along willy nilly!"
When asked how he could drive the vehicle which had no accelerator pedal Ker told Johns he got hold of the accelerator stem and pulled it up with his hand.
There were no tachograph charts available for one vehicle which Ker admitted that he had used. Another vehicle's tachograph calibration certificate had run out in 1998.
Revoking the licence with effect from midnight that night, the TC said the prohibitions were quite serious and Ker had onh licence for a matter of months.This w had case of an operator who eithei know what to do o want to do it.
Towed away There were so ma: lems he felt it app to put Ker out of bt The vehicle gi immediate prohibi so dangerous that be towed away fi roadside check. ' said he was so co: about safety that th had to be revoke midnight on the ck hearing—he only he there was no accid afternoon.
The TC concluded that -disquali for a substantial period" was an issue must consider. Ker would be invited representations about that possibilit 28 days. •