Licence cut after wheel loss
Page 16
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Operator's Licence held by Ton Pentre, Rhondda-based Ronald Griffin has been cut from three vehicles to one following a wheel-loss incident which led to the discovery of maintenance. tacho and speed limiter problems.
Griffin. trading as R Griffin & Son Haulage Contractor, appeared before Welsh Traffic Commissioner David Dixon at a Cardiff disciplinary inquiry.
Vehicle examiner Chris Enier said he had inspected the vehicle involved in the wheelloss at the request of Gwent police. Ten wheelnuts were missing, the wheel mounting was worn and the studs were elongated. He felt that the driver should have known there were problems.
Traffic examiner Sian Thomas said Griffin was asked to produce tachograph charts for two months up to the incident, but was only able to produce 26 for February and March 1999 and none for the previous 12 months.
Griffin explained that the vehicle in question had been sold and replaced, and the tachograph charts had been left in the cab.
Thomas said an examination of the charts revealed the speed limiter had not been working, with 23 of the 26 charts showing speed traces over the 90krnili limit. A review of Griffin's charts at the end of 1999 showed no faults but a check in January revealed 667 kilometres unaccounted for Griffin said that on the day of the incident a casual driver had driven the vehicle earlier in the day. He had taken over at 11:00hrs and checked the vehicle. including the wheelnuts. He had visually checked the wheels and seen nothing to concern him. He accepted he had been a bit "hit and miss" over inspections and that he should have had the speed limiter repaired. But he did not agree that excessive speed had caused loose wheelnuts.
Darren Padfield, of Westwood Commercials, which handled Griffin's maintenance, said he was surprised about the problem with the wheel. Ile was also surprised about an occasion when the vehicle failed its annual test, saying that they must have missed some items, for which he apologised.
Griffin's wife and transport manager, Pat, said that when the vehicle was sold and the charts were left in the cab it had been at a traumatic time with her husband in hospital.
Cutting the licence, Dixon remarked that Griffin had been fortunate that nobody else had been involved and injured in the incident.
Griffin should be displeased by the way he had been let down by Westwood, he added.