§ Dr. GibsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what plans he has to make the installation on buses of safety equipment designed to alert drivers to faults in bus wheels mandatory. [121491]
§ Mr. HillFaults in wheels of commercial vehicles and buses are identified during normal maintenance checks depending on a particular operator's maintenance schedule. My Department's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, which is issued to all vehicle operators, emphasises the need for a daily "walk round" check by the driver. My Department is aware of several proprietary devices intended to give a visual indication of loosening of wheel retaining nuts, which could assist the driver in this check, but there are not any plans to introduce these as a mandatory requirement. Certain wheel faults such as cracks or excessive wear are only apparent on close inspection which is not normally expected to be within the competence of the driver.