Thread: My troubles with the law continues

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Neither do Queensland nor Victoria (BIDSTBC) and neither of them stand out as having stand out MVA statistics due to mechanical defects.

My apologies for the implied slander ! - So it's only NSW that has them? - the yearly RWC that can also be done at local, designated mechanical workshops etc. Or is it only on change of ownership?


Certain States in the USA used to use (still?) a broad-ranging "Steering Failure" as a euphemism for 'passenger holding the wheel' which also allowed for the possibility of a mechanical defect, if ever...
Too many folk think it's the latter.

Originally Posted by superquag

the yearly RWC that can also be done at local, designated mechanical workshops

Annual inspections for most vehicles over a couple of years old by mechanics certified by the RTA for one of more classes of inspection. Regular checks are done by RTA inspectors of vehicles passed by the mechanic to ensure compliance.

Originally Posted by Mr Whippy

Agree. The reason that Vic does not have yearly RWC is that police reckon that from their research, very few accidents are actually caused by unroadworthy cars.

This is one possibility, but the other is that the roadworthy checks do not remove unroadworthy cars from the road, either because the checks don't work (for about $33, exactly how good a check do you expect!) or because the checks do nothing to ensure cars remain roadworthy until the next check.

In my view, all of these apply.

For a start, very few accidents are contributed to by mechanical failures - these do happen, but so do apparently healthy drivers collapsing (probably more frequently); and we don't expect annual medical tests for all drivers.

Inspections cannot occupy a mechanic for long - usually it is a pretty cursory check that will detect any obvious defects. And how often have you heard of people borrowing a set of wheels for the pink slip?

Finally, where vehicle problems do contribute to accidents, the component most commonly at fault is the tyres. These can only be defected if they are illegal. But what is barely legal today will be illegal and dangerous next month, let alone next year, but may well not be replaced until just before the next inspection. I am reminded of an encounter with black ice several years ago on the Barton Hwy one morning - came round a corner (slowly) to find a car next to the road, shiny side down, with the wheels still slowly turning. As I helped the (uninjured) driver out, I was able to clearly see that the three completely bald tyres would have undoubtedly contributed (so, of course did the weather, the road design, and the driver's skills). This was a NSW registered car operating under the annual inspection regime. (For completeness I remember an accident in Bridge road in Melbourne contributed to by rain plus bald tyres and injudicious brake application.)

One of the advantages of having different state jurisdictions is that it allows us to see the usefulness (or otherwise) of this sort of thing. Of course, taking note of the fact that it does nothing useful except keep people employed is another matter!

John

Haven't heard from Mick on how he went following this up - guess he is in gaol - hope he has not dropped the soap.

He'll be going to job interviews with a striped suntan.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

He'll be going to job interviews with a striped suntan.

After he visits a proctologist.

why, he could just ask the guy who does the "in" inspections for the details....

Originally Posted by garrycol

Haven't heard from Mick on how he went following this up - guess he is in gaol - hope he has not dropped the soap.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

He'll be going to job interviews with a striped suntan.

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

After he visits a proctologist.

Thank you all for your concern.
Went down to the local cop shop. A lovely, smiling, polite police woman dealt with my inquiry. The policeman investigating the matter is on leave. She was unable to help me any further. So, I must wait.