Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) drivers are being urged to carry out daily walk-around checks to look for defects on their vehicles before setting out on a journey.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Síochána has made the call as figures show that half of all HGVs inspected in roadside checks in Ireland, by RSA Vehicle Inspectors and An Garda Síochána between 2018-2020, were found to have a roadworthiness defect.
An average of 9,500 HGVs were inspected each year over each of the last three years, with approximately 20 percent found to have minor defects, 25 percent major defects and four percent dangerous defects.
The most common major defects detected includes faulty lighting systems, excessively worn braking components and defective anti-lock braking systems which are designed to help drivers maintain steering control in emergency situations.
“As the owner, user or driver of a commercial vehicle you are legally required to ensure that a walk-around check of the vehicle is carried out once in every 24-hour period before it is used on a public road,” said Sam Waide, CEO of the RSA.
“They are essential in preventing potentially dangerous vehicles from causing serious or possibly fatal collisions on the road.”
The RSA is also reminding HGV operators that Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing (CVRT) has been deemed an essential service during the ongoing COVID restrictions. Operators should apply for their test as normal at www.cvrt.ie
