|
|
524 ambulances fail roadworthy
tests last year
10.04.17
SOME 524 ambulances
failed roadworthiness tests last year with 18 having
to be towed away for repairs, new figures show.
A total of 1,225 ambulances including public,
private and voluntary, underwent the mandatory
Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT) in
2016.
Some 701 ambulances (57.2%) passed while 524
ambulances (42.7%) failed the test including 18 that
received ‘failed-dangerous’ stickers.
The top equipment fails were faulty brakes; lights
and steering alignment.
The top visual fails were faulty
steering/suspension; brakes and lamps.
Some 497 ambulances were subsequently retested with
472 passing and 25 failing a second time. No
ambulances were considered dangerous after the
retest. |
 |
The HSE said the
National Ambulance Service has a fleet of over 500
vehicles of which 270 are emergency ambulances.
“All are CVRT compliant and certified annually.
There are 90 vehicles within the fleet which are
less than one year old and therefore do not meet the
requirement for testing,” said a HSE spokesperson.
“Robust inspections are carried out on all frontline
vehicles as well as the CVRT which is a mandatory
requirement. A full vehicle inspection is also
carried out every eight weeks on these vehicles
which is in line with the RSA best practice
requirements. The National Ambulance Service can
confirm that all vehicles currently in the fleet are
CVRT compliant.”
The figures were released by the Commercial Vehicle
Roadworthiness Reform section of the Road Safety
Authority.
A total of 475,909 CVRTs were carried out in 2016 on
the country’s commercial fleet including buses,
lorries, 4x4s, vans, ambulances and motor homes.
Some 250,149 (53%) passed the test with 225,760
(47%) vehicles failing.
A total of 8,992 commercial vehicles had to be towed
from the test centre with 'failed-dangerous'
stickers.
The top failure items included faulty brakes; lights
and steering/suspension.
A breakdown of the figures show that 13,588 buses
including public and private were tested in 2016. Of
these, 6,503 (47.8%) passed while 7,085 (52.1%)
failed including 321 buses receiving
‘failed-dangerous’ stickers.
Of the 7,051 buses taken back for a retest, 6,288
passed and 763 failed including 26 slapped again
with 'failed-dangerous' stickers. |
|
