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Checks expose rise in vehicle defects

8th February 2001
Page 12
Page 12, 8th February 2001 — Checks expose rise in vehicle defects
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

a by Pate Swingler

A recent crackdown on commercial vehicle safety by police forces, Vehicle Inspectorate and Customs and Excise officers has revealed that vehicle defects are rife on British roads.

Operation Mermaid in Mitcham, Surrey, saw 61 vehicles stopped for inspection. More than 64% of those examined for vehicle defects received prohibitions. Faults in the braking and steering systems were the most prominent problems.

Eleven out of 24 vehicles were overloaded; two of these were prohibited from moving. One L-r•eg, four-axled Oaf tipper was caught using kerosene.

PC Gil Martin from the Metropolitan Police commercial vehicle unit says: "The number of instances was a lot higher than usual this time. My job is the prevention of road accidents and this type of operation should be sending the right message out."

Operation Bulstode near Dudley saw 18 vehicles stopped. Ten were found to be unreadworthy—three with faulty brakes or tyres were taken off the road. PC Wally Hill says: "Fifty-five per cent of the lorries stopped were found to be in breach of the law which was above the national average.

"Although these figures are disappointing, we have a duty to create an environment that is free of death, danger and igiury," he adds.

Both operations checked for other offences such as drivers'

hours, tachographs, and licence and document discrepancies. Environment Agency officers present at Mermaid came across seven unlicensed waste carriers.

Tags

People: Gil Martin
Locations: Surrey

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