Uncovering truck hazards
A number of faults were uncovered, one of which being a wire used to secure a safety brake
Essential but potentially lethal…
Heavy duty vehicles commerce on national and locals roads every day, clocking kilometres as drivers transport the necessities to keep our economy turning.
It is therefore vital that these vehicles be in a roadworthy condition to prevent injury and loss of life. To address safety concerns on trucks, FleetWatch magazine and industry partners host annual road safety training programmes to equip traffic officers with the tools to identify common faults on trucks and give them the confidence to remove unroadworthy vehicles off the road.
80 traffic officers were part of the Brake and Tyre Watch Road Safety Training Initiative held on Wednesday and Thursday last week.
Mentored by a team of qualified specialists, the officers were given an intensive theory session on Wednesday at Blue Haze Country Lodge.
On Thursday, the officers were ready to implement what they had learnt in the ‘classroom’ on the field.Divided into teams, the officers, led by Team Leader from the industry, made their way to the Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) Midway where trucks were pulled off and thoroughly inspected.
Brakes, tyres, axles, licenses and other safety aspects were examined by the traffic officers, while the team leaders explained the finer details and what to look for. “The practical session is always an eye-opener, as seen in the past, approximately 60-65 percent of vehicles stopped have so many faults that they need to be issued discontinuance notices,” remarked Brake and Tyre Watch Co-ordinator Kendall Harrison.
A number of faults were uncovered, one of which being a wire used to secure a safety brake.
“This is illegal and is playing with lives on the road,” remarked one of the officials. The day ended on a high note with a sense of satisfaction in knowing that the team has been proactive in ensuring safety on our roads, especially with the upcoming busy Easter holiday.
