THE COST OF WHEEL LOSS
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• Although some people believe that wheel loss syndrome is a mystery, this bad is not shared by the authorities—and is certainly not an effective defence against prosecution.
You do not have to lose a wheel to find yourself in court. If the police or the Vehicle Inspectorate catches you out on the road with a loose wheel, you're likely to find yourself up before the magistrates charged under Regulation 100 as the user of a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
The penalties depend largely on the circumstances, including your previous record and the precise condition of your vehicle when stopped. You might get off with a warning; but you might be fined. If a wheel actually comes off your vehicle expect far greater penalties, especially if it results in injuries to people or damage to property.
Besides the legal penalties, wheel loss will cost you dear in many other ways, says road safety campaign group Brake. Its new information sheet on wheel loss, due out later this month (June) lists some of the hidden costs which include; • Vehicle downtime; • Recovery costs; • Repair costs; • increased insurance costs; • Legal costs; • Damaged stock; • Damaged reputation.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
• Brake has produced a new advice leaflet on wheel loss as part of its Fleet Safety Forum monthly mailing. It is also available free to nonmembers. Contact: 01484 559909 or www.brake.org.uk.
• The DoT leaflet Careless Torque Costs Lives is available from the DoT's free literature line. Contact: 0207630 6677.
• The best official advice on wheel care is The Code of Practice for the Selection and Care of Wheels for Commercial Vehicles BS ,1U50; Part 2: Section 7a:1995. This is available from the British Standards Institution.
Contact: 020 8996 9000.
• The Society of Operations Engineers. Contact: 020 7630 6677.
Various proprietary devices are available to help guard against loose wheel syndrome. Wheel nut indicators are available from: • Checkpoint: 01204 576 334, www.checkpointsafety.com.
• Safety Link: 0118 939 1978.
NUT LOCKING DEVICES ARE AVAILABLE FROM • Disc-Lock: 01795 844 332, www.disc-lock.com.
• Wheelsafe: 01747 871 991.
4111Theelsure: 01869 238030, vnvw.wheelsure.co.uk.