Car owners free to drive unsafe cars without fear of safety checks
SOUTH Australia is famous for its rusty car fleet despite some appalling backyard maintenance efforts uncovered by police — so should we be on the road to mandatory roadworthy checks?
THE State Government has ruled-out plans by the motor industry for regular safety inspections of privately-owned cars.
Regular tests for vehicles to follow-on from the soon to be introduced testing for trucks in South Australia has been rejected.
The Motor Trade Association has been lobbying for the testing which would happen, as it does in other states, at the point of sale, or annually.
The Association quoted Transport Minister Stephan Knoll in its magazine Motor Trade stating of mandatory car safety inspections: “It is a conversation I would very much like to progress with the department and key stakeholders, including the MTA’’.
The conversation ended yesterday following inquiries by The Advertiser, when the State Government spokesman stated: “The State Government will not be introducing mandatory light vehicle inspections which could increase costs to South Australians”.
Instead SA will rely on the current system of random safety checks when police witness problems on the road.
The RAA, which represents 600,000 motorists, welcomed the comments.
Spokesman Mark Borlace said random roadside vehicle checks had a greater affect, effect than mandatory inspections.
Most other states have a system of mandatory checks either at the point of sale or yearly for older cars, but under the current South Australian system police issue motorists driving unsafe cars with a “defect notice” and they then have to present the repaired vehicle to the Transport Department for inspection.
“We have always supported random roadside inspections which provide a greater obligation to keep the cars safe and maintained all the time, rather than on the one day of a mandatory inspection,” Mr Borlace said
“Random inspections catch those drivers putting themselves and others at risk and send a signal to the community that police or vehicle inspectors are out and about.”
The Motor Trade Association has welcomed the looming introduction of mandatory annual testing for vehicles driven on a public road with a carrying capacity of more than 4.5 tonnes.
The State Government has short-listed companies able to carry out the checks.
MTA ceo Paul Unerkov said the MTA had been lobbying for this safety measure for 40 years and the Coroner had recommended it following a fatal 2014 truck crash on the Southeast Freeway.
A trial last year found 58 per cent of 900 heavy vehicles failed a safety check. All such vehicles will now be subjected to checks at four, six, and eight years after manufacture and then every year from ten years onwards.
Old bangers — state of the states
Queensland: Cars, motorcycles, and large trailers must have a safety certificate when offered for sale, registration is transferred to a new owner, or registration is imported from another state or territory.
NSW: Cars, motorcycles, and trailers more than five years old require a safety check before you can renew the registration.
Victoria:Cars, other than new cars, need a roadworthy certificate when sold or being re-registered.
Tasmania: Cars, motorcycles and trailers when the registration has lapsed for more than 90 days.
South Australia: No requirements for any roadworthy certificates at resale or yearly. A small number of defected, written-off, and modified vehicles require a roadworthy inspection before they can be registered.
Western Australia: When registration is first changed to WA, when it is defected by police, modified, or when re-registered after being written-off.