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Vehicle Safety Tips

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.