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SA Police raid uncovers 49 defects in one fleet

Almost two thirds of trucks inspected at a SA transport company had some kind of fault, police say

 

Police from South Australia’s heavy vehicle enforcement section say they are dismayed at the poor maintenance levels apparent in some transport operators’ fleets.

They performed an early morning inspection of vehicles at an unnamed Wingfield-based transport company on March 27, alongside major crash mechanics and a Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure inspector.

They found 35 major defects, such as faulty brakes, among the 76 trucks inspected.

Those vehicles were either grounded or given a major defect notice that would prevent from driving it for anything but repairs.

A further 14 minor defects were also recorded.

“If the officer reasonably believes the safety risk is not imminent, a minor defect notice (is issued),” SA Police’s Inspector Steve Kameniar says. 

This notice gives operators a longer time period to address the issues identified.

“Poorly maintained and unroadworthy heavy vehicles pose a crash risk on our roads,” Traffic Support Branch’s Bob Fauser says.

 “If the same operators are regularly coming to our attention and we are not seeing an improvement in roadworthiness performance then those operators can expect that police will utilise investigation powers to conduct compliance checks of the fleet.”

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