Owl cleared on brakes
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by Michael Jewell • Pontefract magistrates have cleared Middlesbrough-based Owl Transport of using a vehicle with defective brakes following a wheel-loss incident. The company had pleaded not guilty to using a semi-artic trailer whose brake linings were so worn that the brakes were inoperative.
Vehicle examiner Keith Rayner said he had been called to examine the artic at the Ferrybridge Service Area on the Al. lie found the brakes on the second nearside trailer axle were not working: its S-cam had gone over centre because the linings were so worn.
In reply to Jonathan Lawton, defending, Rayner said he had inspected the brakes by crawling under the trailer. With the aid of a torch he had looked through the examination port at the rear of the brake drum. He was unable to measure the thickness of the linings but thought they were about 6mm. He said he was unable to see the cam but assumed from the position of the adjuster that it had gone over centre.
He added that brake linings 6mm thick would be effective, but the condition of the remaining parts of the brake assembly made the brake inoperative.
Driver Stuart Lambert said he had stopped when he realised there was a problem with the trailer. He backed off the leading nearside trailer brake assembly to free the hub before driving to Ferrybridge where he was seen by the police. Lambert added that it was very dark by the time the vehicle examiner arrived.
Fitter Lee Olver said he had gone out to Ferrybridge, stripped down the hub and brake assembly and changed the linings. Producing the linings to the court, Olver said he could find no fault with the brake assembly. The S cam had not gone over centre, and though the stroke of the adjuster was short he had no doubt that the brake was effective.
Lawton said it was clear that the trailer had been examined in poor conditions, that the brake linings themselves were not defective, and on the evidence presented it was impossible to find that the brake assembly itself was defective.
The magistrates ordered defence costs to be paid out of public funds.