Columnists
We need drivers’ inspection not vehicle inspection
Vehicles which cause accidents are not necesarily in dangerous mechanical condition
Towards the end of 2016, government unwrapped a new scheme to inspect all vehicles in Uganda and establish their road worthiness. This program met open hostility from the public claiming that it is intended to extract money from citizens in the name of vehicle inspection and not to ensure safety as the promoters of the scheme that earlier on stated.
According to the concerned officials the annual vehicle inspection exercise is aimed at taking off the road vehicles in dangerous mechanical condition to avoid accidents. And the defaulters of the inspection fees will pay hefty fines. This is a special warning to all those who think that they can survive without taking their vehicle for inspection. In some cities traffic cameras identify vehicles that did not get their annual inspection and issue tickets. I’m sure you are not ready for one.
Vehicle inspection is a procedure mandated by national or a sub national government in many countries, in which a vehicle is inspected to ensure that it conforms to regulations governing safety, emissions, or both.
Inspection can be required at various times. For instance, periodically or on transfer of title to a vehicle. If required periodically, it is often termed periodic motor vehicle inspection; typical intervals are every two years and every year. When a vehicle passes inspection, often a sticker (inspection decal or inspection sticker) is placed on the vehicle’s windshield or registration plate to simplify the work of identifying those already inspected.
In Brazil inspections are performed by private companies designated by the cities. Annual inspection is mandatory for all diesel vehicles; all natural gas, gasoline and alcohol vehicles except for new vehicles registered in the current year; all motorcycles and motorbikes, independent of year of fabrication (two-stroke engines are exempt).
In August 2005 the Turkish government decided to introduce a vehicle inspection scheme following the directive of the European Union. Since there was no technical equipment available for real road worthiness tests a contract was laid out with the German company that was presenting itself for the task in syndication with two Turkish corporations.
In South Africa, as required to register the change-of-ownership of a vehicle. The new owner must present a Roadworthy Certificate (CoR) in order to receive a new license (disk) for the vehicle. A new license plate number is also issued at that time.
If a motor vehicle is used for public transport or is a heavy-load vehicle (excluding buses), it is tested for road worthiness every year before the motor vehicle license is renewed. A bus must be tested for road worthiness every six months.
All vehicles in Russia must pass a periodic inspection ensuring their road worthiness that includes the adherence to the respective regulations. To pass the inspection the vehicle must not exceed the mandated emission level (currently Euro-3), the brakes must have no leaks and the brake forces must be symmetrical, steering slip must not exceed the mandated parameters (from 10° for cars to 25° for heavy trucks).
For a car to pass the tests, all lights must provide the required color, aim and brightness of the emitted light, and the vehicle must be equipped with the first aid kit, fire extinguisher and the emergency stop sign.
The windshield must have a functional washer, and while window tinting is allowed, including the blinds on the windshield and rear window, they must pass the required amount of light.est, all lights must provide the required color, aim and brightness of the emitted light, and the vehicle must be equipped with the first aid kit, fire extinguisher and the emergency stop sign.
The windshield must have a functional washer, and while window tinting is allowed, including the blinds on the windshield and rear window, they must pass the required amount of light.
Our policy makers ought to understand Uganda’s special problem. There is no need jumping onto policies fished from other countries and implement them. If there is genuine need to reduce road accident then more concentration should be put on the drivers’ mental abilities/ skills and not the mechanical condition of the vehicle.
You will be shocked to discover that over 60% of the accidents that occur involve vehicles in a good mechanical state. There is something more than the mechanical condition of the vehicles if we are to focus on road accidents.
A good number of Ugandan drivers have acquired driving licenses without going to driving schools. If one gets a permit before touching the steering-wheel then what do you expect when those people get onto the road?
People drive while drunk and we are blessed with bad roads; roads that don’t have traffic signs. A vehicle that passes an inspection test today can be involved in an accident tomorrow if it is driven by someone who is drunk or never went through any driving training.
The bitter truth remains that it is better to subject drivers to annual driving skills inspection than dragging the innocent vehicles for mechanical inspection. Have driving permits withdrawn from reckless drivers and drag the drunkards to court if they are found driving. If government insists on inspecting vehicles instead of the drivers then we shall be convinced that there is possibly a conspiracy to extract money from Ugandans through that scheme.
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