INDUSTRY NEWS
REGULAR ‘ REPORT CARDS ’ FOR ROAD WORTHINESS
Roadworthy checks are both a legal requirement and responsible approach to ensuring your vehicle ’ s safety on the road . Unfortunately , legal requirements for roadworthy checks can leave opportunity for neglect that can result in tragic consequences .
Legal requirements :
• Passenger vehicles only require roadworthy testing when ownership changes .
• Public transport ( including minibuses ) and heavy commercial vehicles need annual roadworthy checks .
• Busses must have roadworthy checks every six months .
The CEO of MasterDrive , Eugene Herbert , cautions that there are both legal requirements and moral obligation with conducting roadworthy checks . “ Particularly in passenger vehicles , which can be used for many years before a roadworthy check is required , fleet managers should make roadworthy checks a regular requirement irrespective of legal requirements .
“ As a provider of driver training , MasterDrive attests to the important of this . Training cannot be conducted in a vehicle that does not meet basic roadworthy requirements . Yet , the number of unroadworthy vehicles arriving for training is much more common than we would like to see .”
The onus to ensure a vehicle meets roadworthy requirements rests with both fleet managers and drivers . “ While a fleet manager is responsible to initiate repairs or replacements to ensure vehicles are roadworthy , it is often drivers that first identify these issues .
“ Processes should be instituted with zero tolerance for neglecting pre-trip inspections . These inspections will be the first identification of issues and consequent timely corrective action . Road safety is a collective approach where all individuals work together to achieve this .”
There are two ways in which regular roadworthy checks can be conducted . “ The typical vehicle components that are checked include the engine , lights , indicators , tyres , brakes , brake fluid , handbrake , steering and alignment , shocks , exhaust system , windows , windscreen , windscreen wipers and doors .
“ Ultimately , due to the role these components play in road safety , it is often best that a professional preforms the roadworthy checks . They will quickly identify problems and rectify issues faster than a fleet manager may do . The Vehicle Testing Association ( VTA ) is such an organisation that can assist businesses in performing these checks ,” says Herbert .
A roadworthy vehicle that both drivers and fleet managers can trust will ensure they arrive safely at their destination cannot be underestimated . “ Each time a vehicle leaves an organisation , both fleet managers and drivers need to be sure their vehicles will not fail them in the worst possible way ,” says Herbert .
aBr WORDS IN ACTION 32 JANUARY • FEBRUARY • MARCH 2025