VACC, the peak automotive industry body in Victoria, supports the Victoria Police call to motorists to ensure their vehicles are 100 per cent roadworthy, 365 days of the year.
VACC calls for all-year round road worthy checks
[May 2011] VACC, the peak automotive industry body in Victoria, supports the Victoria Police call to motorists to ensure their vehicles are 100 per cent roadworthy, 365 days of the year.
Head of Road Policing, Deputy Commissioner, Kieran Walshe today launched Victoria Police’s month long Winter Driving program. He warned motorists that police will be accepting ‘no excuses’ for unroadworthy vehicles, starting June1.
“I am calling on all motorists to ensure their vehicle is road safe and adjust their driving behaviour for winter conditions. Police will be out across the state’s roads enforcing the road rules, but all motorists must also play their part,” Mr Walshe said.
“It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure their vehicle has roadworthy tyres, all lights working, all seatbelts are fully functioning, steering and brakes are well serviced, and that the windscreen is free of sandblasting or cracks that could impact visibility,” Mr Walshe said.
VACC runs its own vehicle safety program and is one of the few organisations who produce vehicle safety statistics through the Five Point Safety Check. The Five Point Safety Check is voluntary and free and is conducted by participating VACC repairers when a vehicle is serviced. Repairers inspect the five major safety features of a vehicle – tyres, brakes, lights, steering and restraints.
“There are similarities between Victoria Police’s and VACC’s vehicle safety campaigns which ultimately are both about trying to achieve the same thing – that is, saving lives,” VACC, Executive Director, David Purchase said.
“There are more unsafe vehicles on our roads that you might imagine. The latest figures show 34 per cent of vehicles tested so far this year failed the Five Point Safety Check. Today, Mr Walshe has put the onus on the vehicle owner that they are responsible for the condition of the vehicle they drive.
“If we had our way, we would ask Mr Walshe to go a step further and take random vehicle inspections to the level of random breath tests, and, over the whole year, instead of just the month of June. Based on what RBT’s have done to frighten people into not drinking and driving because of the high likelihood of being caught, random vehicle inspections might make people do more to make their vehicle safe.
“VACC also takes this opportunity to urge the Victorian Government to reconsider compulsory vehicle testing and if not, then, at the very least, support VACC’s Five Point Safety Check,” Mr Purchase said.
For more on VACC’s Vehicle Safety Campaign, visit vacc.com.au