Police halt potentially dangerous truck at Mülheim dockyard
In a recent series of inspections aimed at ensuring road safety, 125 commercial trucks were stopped and thoroughly checked by the police. The inspections revealed that 25 of these trucks had issues that needed immediate attention.
Two trucks were deemed unsafe and were not allowed to proceed due to critical mechanical failures. Common issues found during these inspections included brake system defects, tire and wheel defects, lighting failures, steering and suspension problems, and fluid leaks.
Brake system violations, the most critical and frequent problems discovered, can significantly impair a truck’s ability to stop safely. Worn brake pads, air leaks in air brake systems, and improperly adjusted brakes reduce braking effectiveness, leading to brake failure and potentially devastating rear-end collisions or loss of control.
Tire defects, such as worn tread below legal minimums, mismatched tire types on the same axle, underinflation, or exposed cords, increase the risk of blowouts which can cause rollovers or jackknifes. Tires lacking sufficient tread also lose traction, especially in wet conditions, making trucks harder to control.
Lighting failures—including broken, non-functioning, or incorrect bulbs and lenses—reduce a truck’s visibility and can prevent other motorists from anticipating its movement, especially at night, raising the chances of collisions.
Steering and suspension issues like worn kingpins, cracked leaf springs, or loose bolts diminish vehicle stability and handling, increasing the risk of sudden lane departures or loss of control.
Leaking fluids such as oil, coolant, or fuel leaks can cause environmental hazards, fires, and mechanical failures, escalating accident severity.
These mechanical failures compromise commercial trucks' safe operation, with brake issues and tire defects being primary contributors to accidents involving truck loss of control, crashes, or rollovers. Maintenance neglect, rushed inspections, and cost-cutting amplify these risks by allowing unsafe trucks to remain on roads, directly linking inspection violations to road safety hazards.
It was also noted that tired drivers can cause accidents. While no new facts about the number of trucks, inspections, drivers under the influence, or trucks deemed unsafe were mentioned, it is clear that ensuring the mechanical safety of commercial trucks is a crucial step towards making our roads safer.
References: [1] Brake system defects: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2018 [2] Tire defects: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2018 [3] Lighting failures: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2018 [4] Steering and suspension issues: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2018 [5] Leaking fluids: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/data-and-statistics/large-truck-and-bus-crash-facts-2018
- Neglecting the maintenance of truck brake systems, which are crucial for safe stopping, is a substantial factor in public-transit and general-news concerning transportation accidents.
- In addition to brake system violations, tire defects also pose significant risks in the population of commercial vehicles, raising the likelihood of rear-end collisions, rollovers, and loss of control on wet roads.
- Lighting failures, steering and suspension issues, and leaking fluids can compound the hazardous conditions on roads, potentially leading to accidents and linking industry and finance due to the costs associated with road safety issues and vehicle downtime.
