15 Deireadh Fómhair 2010

Póstaeir um Sheiceáil Sábháilteachta Feithiclí

Purpose of this initiative

All organisations requiring their employees to drive on work business, irrespective of vehicle ownership (whether provided by the organisation or personally owned and used for work purposes), should have robust procedures in place regarding the safety of vehicles.

Why it is important

Vehicle pre-use daily checks are a simple and effective way to spot potentially dangerous issues before vehicles are used. Employers and self employed people should have a system of routine daily checks in place to ensure that vehicles are in good working order at the start of each working day.

In 2008, Road Safety Authority (RSA) vehicle inspectors stopped 3,244 Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) at roadside checks in Ireland and found:

•  21% of HGV’s had braking defects;
• 21% of HGVs had lighting or other marking defects; and 
• 12% of HGVs had tyre or other wheel defects.

These vehicles were not roadworthy and were therefore unsafe for use. Most of these defects would have been noticed if the driver had conducted a walkaround check before the vehicle had started its journey.

Vehicle walkaround check posters

The Health and Safety Authority, Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána have collaboratively developed a series of simple vehicle walkaround check posters to highlight the importance of regular driver vehicle checks. These are aimed at the most commonly found work vehicles. The walkaround check posters cover HGVs, Van and Light Goods Vehicles [LGVs], Bus and Public Service Vehicles [PSVs].

The RSA is producing a ‘Guide to Keeping Your Commercial Vehicle Roadworthy’ to help commercial vehicle operators and drivers know how to make sure their vehicles are safe, roadworthy and comply with the law. This guide will be available shortly and will include a large copy of each of the walkaround check posters.

The posters can be now be downloaded free of charge from the respective agency websites. Health & Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána  and the Road Safety Authority.