22-05-07 Vehicle Checks Uncover Disturbing Results
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) vehicle examiners visited St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly accompanied by a colleague from Devon and Cornwall Constabulary in order to carry out road enforcement safety checks on vehicles between 14th and 16th May.
In total 38 vehicles - a mixture including cars, buses and lorries - were examined, resulting in nine immediate and four delayed prohibitions being issued. The most notable cases included:
A private car with completely inoperable brakes.
A taxi and a mini-bus, both of which had front steering tyres that were worn below the legal limit (the cords were showing).
A vehicle with missing wheel nuts.
The VOSA officers also took the opportunity to meet with local operators and representatives of the Isles of Scilly Council to offer advice on various road safety issues, in particular preventative maintenance and standards of roadworthiness.
VOSA Senior Vehicle Examiner Tony Wood said: “The defects detected during our checks were predominately of a serious nature. We are fully aware of the unique situation that exists in the Isles of Scilly, but that does not relinquish the responsibility that vehicle drivers have for keeping their vehicles in a roadworthy condition. VOSA will continue to take the appropriate action, even prosecuting the offenders of the worst offences, during our future checks.”
- ENDS -
NOTES TO EDITOR:
Vehicles on the Isles of Scilly do not have to be MOT tested providing they do not travel to the mainland. This does not preclude them from road safety standards, and prohibitions and prosecutions can still be issued.
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls.
For media enquiries about VOSA, please contact: Henry Norman on 0117 954 3438 / henry.norman@vosa.gov.uk or Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 / zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 23/05/2007