The roadworthiness of vehicles using the state’s roads will be in the spotlight tomorrow on ‘Traffic Thursday’.
Last year more than 48,000 vehicles were either defected, or the driver cautioned about a defectable issue, by South Australia Police.
Superintendent Robert Gray, the officer in charge of Traffic Support Branch, said the roadworthiness of vehicles goes to the heart of community safety.
“Bald tyres, faulty lights and indicators, oil leaks, insecure seats, poor brakes, structural rust, worn seat belts and even a faulty warning horn can contribute to higher risk on the roads,” he said.
“We believe a significant number of vehicles, both light and heavy, continue to drive while un-roadworthy.
“And tomorrow, during our short, sharp, monthly education campaign we will be encouraging motorist to do the right thing and consider whether their vehicle is fit for purpose.”
If a vehicle is defective, the vehicle can be issued with a defect notice that will require the owner/driver to have repairs undertaken.
They are prohibited from driving, selling or disposing of the vehicle until the vehicle is repaired.
“As with many of the road rules we have highlighted through Traffic Thursday, ultimately, this is an issue of road safety, and motorists taking responsibility for their knowledge and paying attention to the law,” Superintendent Gray said.
Several offences relate to defect notices:
- A driver or an operator of a light vehicle in breach of light vehicle standards can be issued with a Traffic Infringement Notice for $408 (plus a $60 Victims of Crime Levy).
- The TIN for driving or selling a light vehicle contrary to a defect notice is $583 (plus a $60 Victims of Crime Levy) or for defacing, altering, obscuring or removing a defect notice is $408 (plus a $60 Victims of Crime Levy).
What happens when a vehicle is defected:
- When a vehicle is defected the driver will be instructed to either present the vehicle to a nominated police station, or to contact DPTI to arrange a date and time for a defect inspection.
- The police may choose to clear minor defects such as lights, tyres, horn or wipers but they will not clear defect notices that have been directed to DPTI for a more detailed inspection.
- If an owner/driver is told to take a defected vehicle to the police for inspection, they will check if the defected items have been attended to. If they are satisfied the faults have been rectified, they may remove the defect notice from the vehicle.
- But if the police determine there are still faults present, or they notice further faults not listed on the defect notice, they may re-defect the vehicle or they can refer the vehicle to DPTI for a full roadworthiness inspection.
- Within the metropolitan area of Adelaide, inspections of serious defects (for example brakes, steering or suspension) and all other roadworthiness inspections, are undertaken at DPTI’s Vehicle Inspection Station at Regency Park or at Lonsdale.
- Inspectors examine the entire vehicle to make sure it is safe to be driven on the road. This means inspecting all components that affect the safety of the owner/driver, passengers, and other road users.
- They also inspect the vehicle to ensure it meets environmental requirements for exhaust emissions, noise and other items required by the Vehicles Standards Rules.
