Wheels of death halted in Muldersdrift
A list of more than 20 faults were found on the heavy duty vehicle.
Due to the high accident rate, the N14 Pinehaven crossing in Muldersdrift has been dubbed the local stairway to heaven and road users are exposed to life threatening scenarios daily.
Heavy vehicles – trucks specifically – make up a large percentage of the total vehicles on the stretch of road and have proved to be a major contributor to road carnage in the area.
A hair-raising incident involving an unroadworthy truck carrying scrap metal on the N14 on Tuesday 28 October once again raised concern that maintenance of many trucks on local roads has hit dangerously low levels.
“The driver of the specific truck found himself in a compromising position when the truck’s brakes failed on a steep hill and weighing in his options he drove into a barrier at the side of the road to bring it to a halt,” explains Chief Provincial Traffic Inspector George Raftopoulos.
Inspecting the vehicle local traffic authorities say came to find that it is one of the most unroadworthy vehicles some have seen in decades.
The vehicle was impounded and a roadworthy and weight test was done at the Mogale City Traffic Department in Delporton.
The following illegal elements were found on the vehicle during the test:
Windscreen cracked, right front headlight not working, left front indicator not working, wheel coupling missing, no mud guard, no brakes on front wheels, no emergency brakes first diff, brake force second diff, no service brake or emergency brakes, wheel nuts missing, tyres smooth and torn, no shackle bushes on horse of truck, stabiliser gone, no rubbers on steering, oil leak on engine and gearbox
Trailer
On trailer left rear indicator not working, chassey welded together, no chevron or markings, load sensor not joined, no brakes on trailor, tyres worn and torn, stabiliser rubbers damaged.
Raftopoulos called the vehicle a death trap on wheels and gave it a 12 out of 10 measuring the danger it held for other road users.
The fleet owner, a Botswana resident (also where the permit was issued) and the driver were both obligated to sign an admission of guilt and was fined for various infringements of the road traffic act.
In extreme cases where overloading exceeds five times the weight permitted on a vehicle, South African law permits that the driver be arrested.
“The onus ultimately lies with the driver,” concludes Raftopoulos
