A vehicle is only as safe as the driver!

Before starting your engine:

• Check your vehicle
• Fix your mirrors
• Buckle up

What do you need to check?

One of the best basic, simple and easy-to-use checklists is called POWER:

• Petrol: ensure that you have enough fuel for your journey.
• Oils: check engine, transmission, brakes/clutch and steering fluids.
• Water: check radiator/cooling system, battery and windscreen wiper fluid.
• Electrical: check head, tail, brake and reverse lights.
• Rubbers: check tyres and wiper blades.

Have you had your vehicle checked?

There are a number of things that determine how often you need to have your vehicle checked:

• Age – the older a vehicle gets, the more often things like seals and gaskets deteriorate. Remember, roll on/roll off vehicles simply have new licence plates!
• Mileage (Kilometers) – more driving, more checks.
• Terrain – bad roads, more wear and tear.
• Number of drivers – each driver should have the responsibility of checking the vehicle.
• Manufacturer’s recommendations – some manufacturers give specific time frames for maintenance checks or part replacements.

In the transportation industry, two types of checks are recommended:

• Frequent – This type of inspection is also called the Pre-Trip Check and usually consists of basic checks which are often cursory, visual checks for functionality and regulatory compliance, e.g. tyres, lights, leaks, etc.
• Periodic – This type is usually more detailed and often carried out by your mechanic or dealership. It requires a more in depth assessment of the vehicle parts and is usually scheduled according to manufacturer’s recommended time or mileage (kilometers).

The more often a vehicle is checked, the more road worthy!

Have you had your vehicle inspected?

P (Private) – Must be inspected every 2 years once the vehicle is +5 years

H (Hire) – Must be inspected annually

T (Truck) – Must be inspected annually

R (Rental) – Must be inspected annually

P inspections can be made at any MOWT authorised vehicle testing station; T, H and R can only be inspected by licensing officers.

Vehicles that have successfully passed the inspection are issued windscreen stickers that also indicate the validity period, e.g. Jan 2016 – Jan 2017.

The correct place for the sticker is the front upper or lower left hand corner of the vehicle’s windscreen to allow easy identification during any traffic exercise.