Gordon Forrest, the inspector of motor traffic at DVS, said he was ‘seriously concerned’ that some motorists were driving with vehicle defects such as broken lights, flat or worn tyres and poor brakes, and were putting road users at risk of injury.
More than 300 motorists were issued with defect notices following road checks undertaken by the DVS, police, Customs and the 12 honorary police forces. The drivers were ordered to have the faults fixed and to present the vehicle to DVS within seven days.
And 11 were impounded for further inspection and subsequently deemed not roadworthy. Those vehicles were scrapped and their owners asked to attend a parish hall inquiry.
Mr Forrest said: ‘I am seriously concerned that some drivers are prepared to drive a defective vehicle, putting themselves and other road users at risk.
‘It only takes five minutes to check on things like lights, worn tyres, corroded bodywork, windscreen washer and wipers.
‘Any defect is the responsibility of the owner or the driver of the vehicle. Failing to carry out these basic checks could result in the vehicles being impounded and possible prosecution.’
The most common problem reported was issues with the lights – which accounted for 236 of the total number of defects.
A total of 126 cars were reported as well as 105 vans and 68 trucks. Five tractors and seven motorcycles were also found to have defects following the checks.
