Mobile Testing and Weigh Units to assist in reducing road crashes
You may have a fraudulently acquired a road worthy certificate when your vehicle has defects, but should you get caught the law will take its course and your vehicle will be immediately impounded - Shongwe
MBOMBELA – Mpumalanga Community Safety, Security and Liaison, MEC Vusi Shongwe said that Mobile Vehicle and Weighing Units that the department unveiled today on N4 Kia Ora outside Mbombela will go a long way towards reducing road crashes in the province.
According to Shongwe, most vehicles obtain vehicle roadworthy certificates after being purchased and after that they do not get tested frequently so that defects are timeously identified and attended to.
He says in worst cases some vehicle owners even bribe corrupt officers to issue them with roadworthy certificates when their vehicles have defects. He said that the equipments will also assist in alleviating corruption at vehicle testing stations because the equipment has been fitted with a camera.
“You may have a fraudulently acquired a road worthy certificate when your vehicle has defects, but should you get caught the law will take its course and your vehicle will be immediately impounded. What is also effective is that once the vehicle has been tested, the driver will receive a print out that will show the details of defects if there are any in their vehicle,” the MEC said.
With regard to vehicle owners who often evade weigh bridges by using other routes, the mobile weigh unit will assist in bringing to book once they are stopped.
Shongwe explained that the devices are sophisticated in such a way that even the vision of the drivers can be tested on the spot. Once the drivers’ eyes have been tested they are then advised on the next course of action depending on the results.
The Mobile Testing and Vehicle Weighing Units will be used to examine the roadworthiness of vehicles and weigh them simultaneously. The department believes that the introduction of these two units will have a major impact on the enhancement of road safety in the province. Furthermore this will lead to effective law enforcement.
At the launch of the units, several units were checked and they included trucks. The team that was accompanying the MEC was able to stop some vehicles and others were also impounded.
