Fleet operators called to account over unroadworthy vehicles

Against a background
of growing concern over
the number of accidents
involving heavy vehicles,
fleet operators have been
called to account to enforce
the Road Transport Quality
System and so ensure the
safety of drivers and other
road users.
Unroadworthiness
accounts for approximately
1 in 10 fatal accidents
on South African roads,
according to information
released by Heavy
Commercial Vehicle
Underwriters (HCV).
While the RTQS exists
to ensure roadworthiness of
vehicles, specifically freight
vehicles, the authorities
have failed to enforce it,
says Chris Barry, MD of
HCV.
The RTQS requires the
owner of certain classes
of motor vehicles (mainly
commercial) to be registered
as the operator when
licensing the vehicle. It
clearly details the duties
of an operator, including
exercising control over
drivers, monitoring PrDPs,
and complying with loading
restrictions, vehicle fitness
requirements and public
safety commitments.
The system enables
authorities to suspend
or cancel the operator’s
registration, serve
discontinuation notices of
unroadworthy vehicles and
order a driver to be retested
to check driving competence
where necessary.
The effects of RTQS
do not however seem
apparent. “Unroadworthy
and overloaded vehicles are
still a significant problem
on South African roads and
drivers continue to get away
with drunk driving and
speeding. In 2009, 54 000
trucks travelling on South
African roads were found
to be unroadworthy,” said
Barry.
“In a recent Fleetwatch
police training initiative,
HCV was shocked when
two vehicles belonging to
an HCV policyholder were
served with discontinuance
notices.
“The vehicles were
deemed unroadworthy due
to simple maintenance
neglect that rendered them
totally unroadworthy. We
were shocked when we were
contacted by the vehicles’
owner who proceeded to
insist that the experts who
examined the vehicles were incorrect in their
assessment.
“I urge this fleet operator
and others to consider what
may have occurred had
these unroadworthy vehicles
not been removed from the
roads,” said Barry.
By hosting similar
training initiatives,
companies like HCV hopes
to educate and empower
police to recognise
unroadworthy vehicles
and support the success of
RTQS.
“Through legal
inconveniences we hope
to force operators to
recognise the importance
of roadworthiness in
sustaining their business
practices and saving lives on
the road,” he added.