Roads Policing - Vehicle Safety Checks

Driving a vehicle is one of the most dangerous activities we will do on a regular basis. It is of paramount importance that drivers take personal responsibility to ensure their vehicle is in a roadworthy condition and that they are familiar with the controls of the car.

It is not enough that your car has a valid NCT disc on the windscreen. A vehicle needs to be serviced in line with manufacturer’s recommendations in between roadworthiness tests as well. It’s your legal obligation to do so. Unfortunately, some motorists continue to think that once their car passes the NCT it doesn’t need to be serviced until the next test or until a warning light comes on.

Obviously, it is not expected of drivers to have an intricate knowledge of the internal workings of the vehicle, however below is a list of things that drivers do need to be aware of and check at regular intervals:

Tyres

Tyres are the only point of contact between you and the road so it is vital that they are maintained correctly. You should regularly check each tyre for:

• Defects such as bulges, sidewall tears, exposed wire or penetration damage
• Tyre thread depth. The legal limit is 1.6mm but it is recommended that they are changed at 3mm

It is an offence to drive a vehicle in a public place with a tyre thread depth of less than 1.6mm. A Fixed Penalty Notice of €80 and 2 penalty points can be issued.

Lights

Drivers should do a walk around of their vehicle regularly to ensure all lights are working correctly. If any lights are faulty, the bulbs should be replaced immediately as it is an offence to drive a vehicle on a public road with faulty lights.

Since 1st November 2014, all vehicles sold in the EU must be fitted with Day Running Lights or DRL’s. DRL’s are only to the front and the rear of the vehicle is not illuminated. While this is a good safety initiative, it has created a problem with drivers failing to turn on their dipped headlights during the hours of darkness. Drivers need to ensure they activate their dipped headlights during dusk, darkness and adverse weather conditions such as heavy rainfall or snow, to ensure the vehicles tail lights are illuminated and they have sufficient light to the front.

Engine oil

As all drivers should be aware, oil is crucial for an engine to function properly. While this should be checked by a mechanic during a vehicle’s routine service, it is good practice to check your car’s oil level on a regular basis, particularly before setting off on long journeys or taking your car overseas.

Fluids

Under the bonnet of a car, there are a number of containers for different fluids such as power steering fluid, coolant, windscreen wash etc. These are all clearly marked and will have minimum and maximum levels marked on the containers as appropriate. It is good practice to visually check these levels regularly.

Windscreen Wipers

Windscreen Wipers typically last between 1 to 2 years depending on frequency of use. If your wipers are not performing as they should, don’t wait until the next service to change them.

Safety Kit

It is highly recommended that you carry the following in your vehicle:

• High visibility vest
• A working torch
• A hazard warning triangle
• De-icing equipment (for glass and door locks)
• First aid kit

Warning Lights

Don’t ignore dashboard warning lights. If a warning is present, as a general rule, yellow lights mean ‘check as soon as possible’, red means ‘stop vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so’.

Some common examples are: