§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) if he will enumerate the most common defects found in heavy goods vehicles both in the annual routine inspection and at the random roadside checks; and what measures the inspectorate takes to ensure that defects are corrected before the vehicle resumes its customary duties;
(2) what percentage of heavy goods vehicles, when subjected to the routine annual roadworthiness test, are found to have serious defects which need immediate attention;
(3) what percentage of heavy goods vehicles, when subjected to random roadside tests of roadworthiness carried out by Department of Transport inspectors, are found to have serious defects sufficient to make the vehicle unsafe to use the public highway.
§ Mr. EyreThe most common defects found during annual inspection of goods vehicles in the year ended 31 March 1982 were as follows:72W
Percentage of vehicles inspected 1. Service brake performance 6.768 2. Secondary brake performance 6.194 3. Parking brake performance 5.575 4. Brake pipes, reservoir etc. 3.282 5. Mechanical brake components 1.871 6. Oil leaks 1.644 7. Suspension units (attachment) 1.555 8. Steering linkage 1.454 9. Tyres 1.419 Details of the above defects found during annual inspections are held on computer. However, basic details of spot shecks are collected manually and I regret that analysis by specific defect could not be carried out except with great difficulty and at disproportionate cost.
Where the defects are found during the course of a routine test, the vehicle is failed and has to be submitted for retest after the necessary repairs have been carried out. If on an annual test or a roadside spot check a defect is discovered which is of such severity that there would be an immediate risk to road safety if the vehicle were driven on a road then it is issued with an "immediate" prohibition notice. In this event the defect must be rectified and the vehicle given a further full inspection by the vehicle examiner before it is allowed to return to normal operation. In the year ended 31 March 1982. 0.268 per cent. of all motor vehicles and trailers submitted for a routine annual test were issued with an "immediate" prohibition notice.
In the year ended 30 September 1982, 6.61 per cent. of all motor vehicles and trailers inspected at random roadside checks were issued with an "immediate" prohibition notice.
When, on a roadside check a less serious defect is found ie such that the vehicle is, or is likely to become, unfit for service but does not represent an immediate risk to public safety it is issued with a "delayed" prohibition. Before a "delayed" prohibition can be cleared the defect must be rectified and the vehicle presented within 10 days at the most for further examination by a vehicle examiner.
§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he is satisfied that there are sufficient heavy goods testing facilities and inspectors; and whether there has been any reduction in the effectiveness of the inspectorate because of reduced numbers over the past three years.
§ Mr. EyreThere are 69 main and 23 ancillary heavy goods vehicle testing stations in England, Scotland and Wales. The location of the stations is such that 80–90 per cent. of vehicles do not have to travel more than 15 miles for the annual test and most of the remainder do not have to travel more than 25 miles. There are no delays in providing annual tests for vehicles once test applications have been received.
§ Mr. Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will take steps to ensure that fuel-injection equipment in heavy vehicles is sealed to prevent tampering.
§ Mrs. ChalkerWe are looking at ways of dealing with the problem of tampering, while still allowing necessary adjustments to be made.
§ Mr. Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport if he will seek to introduce six-monthly tests for heavy vehicles.
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§ Mrs. ChalkerI consider that the present arrangements for annual testing, backed by other powers to inspect vehicles at other times, are adequate. To double the frequency of checks would impose an undue burden on the resources of the industry and the testing organisation.
§ Mr. Wardellasked the Secretary of State for Transport how many lorries jack-knifed in fatal and serious accidents in 1981.
§ Mrs. Chalker35 and 161, respectively, in Great Britain.
§ Mr. Muddasked the Secretary of State for Transport (1) what progress is being made towards the establishment of a British standard for spray suppression equipment for heavy goods vehicles; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what official research has taken place in recent years into overcoming the dangers to other motorists of spray caused by heavy goods vehicles.
§ Mrs. ChalkerMy Department has funded research on spray suppression by Southampton University in collaboration with the transport and road research laboratory. I understand that the BSI committee preparing a standard on this subject has had several meetings and aims to complete its work in 1983.