Independent Inspectors instead of government inspectors will be able to conduct truck’s annual safety checks under the changes being implemented this month. Laws to keep unsafe trucks off the roads are being implemented by Roads and Maritime Services – prompted by a spate of horrific fatal accidents. According to an article on Smh.com.au, the Roads Minister Duncan Gay began changing the process in May this year when he permitted 12 tonne, 2 axle rigid trucks and trailers between 4.5 and 9 tonnes to be audited by private independent inspectors, whereas before these checks had to be carry out by government inspectors. According to the Minister, heavy vehicle authorised inspection stations are normally ordinary repair businesses and therefore would be equipped to conduct the necessary checks during normal business hours. However not everyone is in favour of the new independent checking methods, according to Michael Griffiths, the former head of vehicle safety at the RTA fears that this system is open for corruption to leak in. He fears that operators whose vehicles aren’t up to code could simply “shop” for “friendly” inspectors, in other words inspectors who can look the other way about their vehicle’s defects. Read what he had to say about the system:

But a former head of vehicle safety at the then RTA, Michael Griffiths – who attended a crash in which five members of one family were killed, prompting the introduction of government-run inspection stations – questioned the changes. He said rolling back existing laws opened the prospect for people who have marginal vehicles to go shopping for friendly inspectors. Mr Griffiths was one of a flying squad of RTA inspectors sent to visit crash scenes to see what could be learnt. He visited Mount Ousley, near Wollongong, in 1979 after a coal truck with defective brakes killed five members of one family. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/truck-safety-inspection-laws-return-to-horror-days-20130803-2r62y.html#ixzz2bZZYKggm

The accident happened when the truck swerved into the oncoming traffic on the other side of the road, colliding with several vehicles including a car occupied by a family which then went over the embankment, killing all the occupants. The car’s occupants were Dorothy Moore, who was driving and her children – Julianne, 17, Lynette, 16, Stephen, 14 and Gregory, 11 all of whom died at the scene. Upon investigation it was discovered that the truck which caused the accident had obtained a certificate of roadworthiness from an authorised inspection station without an examination even taking place. The truck owner was convicted on 5 counts of manslaughter. The post goes on to explain:

The state transport minister at the time, Peter Cox, told NSW Parliament that after sending two officers on a fact-finding tour of inspections stations in the US and Europe, the concept of government inspection stations would be adopted. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/truck-safety-inspection-laws-return-to-horror-days-20130803-2r62y.html#ixzz2bZZYKggm

Despite all the opposition, particularly because people are afraid that the sins of the past may be repeated and lives may be lost in the process, the RMS has defended their move saying high-risk vehicles are inspected by RMS inspectors while low-risk vehicles are inspected by government accredited examiners, I guess we will have to wait and see.