Minister Approves Rsa Recommendations For Overhaul Of Commercial Vehicle Roadworthine

MINISTER APPROVES RSA RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OVERHAUL OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLE ROADWORTHINESS SYSTEM

It was announced today Friday 8th February that the Minister for Transport has approved proposals from the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to reform the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness system following a comprehensive review.

Significantly it will see the RSA take over responsibility for the future management and operation of the Commercial Vehicle Testing system from local authorities. It will also result in a major overhaul of the system itself.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were engaged by the RSA to assist with the review and they identified deficiencies in many areas of the commercial vehicle roadworthiness regime.

The PwC Report contains twenty five recommendations for improving the testing and enforcement regimes, the majority of which require immediate action. These recommendations relate to such matters as test centre operations, IT and management information systems, supervisory arrangements, and the scope of testing.

Specifically the report recommends a 3-strand approach for raising the standard of roadworthiness of commercial vehicles on a permanent basis.

Strand One addresses the testing process to ensure that roadworthiness tests are conducted impartially and correctly at all times.

Strand Two will see the development of a programme of roadside inspections to ensure continuous compliance with roadworthiness standards.

Strand Three involves the introduction of operator premises checks to ensure that operators put measures in place to guarantee vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition at all times.

In relation to the organisational structure, the PwC report explored seven strategic options for the future delivery of the testing service and recommended centralised supervision of the existing network of private sector test centres by the RSA. The use of a single authority to monitor and enforce standards is considered the best means for ensuring consistent practices, streamlined procedures, clearer communication channels, and greater accountability within the service.

The RSA will ultimately take over responsibility for the future management and operation of the service from local authorities. While the decision has been made to transfer responsibility, the next step is to work out the resourcing and transfer timeframe. Preparatory work on planning the implementation of the ‘Reform Programme’ and the transfer arrangements will commence shortly.

The Minister for Transport approved the RSA proposals with a requirement that the measures be implemented in the shortest practicable timescale. To that end, it was agreed by the Department of Transport, the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the County and City Managers Association and the Road Safety Authority to establish an Implementation Group to assist in and oversee the implementation of the ‘Reform Programme’.

The Reform Programme will create the best possible system of supervision of the commercial roadworthiness system. Roadside enforcement activity, checks of operators fleet and maintenance records as well as the annual test will be linked in one integrated regime. Resources will be targeted at operators of vehicles deemed most likely to offend while continuing with ‘light touch’ supervision on those with a good track record of compliance

Some of the key changes for Test centre operations will include;

* the development of training programmes which will be monitored and accredited.
*Test Centre Licenses will be time limited and the renewal of licences will be linked to prior performance.
* To remove any potential conflict, vehicle owners / operators will no longer be able to test their own vehicles.
* An integrated IT system for the entire Vehicle Testing Network will be put in place.

These and the other changes will support a quality and consistent commercial vehicle testing which is critical to a successful test regime. Key stakeholders will be kept up to date and consulted throughout the reform process.

Mr. Noel Dempsey TD, Minister for Transport said “A review of the Commercial Vehicle Testing system was one of the first actions taken by the Road Safety Authority when it was established. The review was conducted on the request of my predecessor following Government and public disquiet relating to a number of high-profile road collisions involving commercial vehicles and also the high numbers of Irish-registered vehicles detected with serious defects by the UK authorities in the course of EU-required roadside inspections.”

Mr Noel Brett, CEO, Road Safety Authority added, “As the report states a programme of change must be implemented urgently. To this end the RSA has already commenced work on enhancing roadside checks, including the development of a comprehensive enforcement strategy with the Gardai.”




Editors Note

Member States of the European Union are required to have arrangements in place for the compulsory periodic roadworthiness testing of motor vehicles and trailers registered by them. The annual testing of commercial vehicles in Ireland is carried out by over 158 privately operated test centres which are appointed and supervised by Local Authorities.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), including large trailers, Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), buses and ambulances are subject to roadworthiness testing when they are 1 year old and every year thereafter.

Compulsory roadworthiness testing currently applies to an estimated 230,000 commercial vehicles. Heavy goods vehicles, large trailers, buses and ambulances account for 92,000 of the vehicles with the balance of 138,000 being light goods vehicles.

Responsibility for matters relating to vehicle testing transferred from the Department of Transport to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in September 2006. One of the RSA’s first acts was to begin a review of the Commercial Vehicle Testing Service.

The Road Safety Authority current functions in relation to commercial vehicle testing are:

* to specify the items to be tested, the method of testing and the reasons for failure
* to detail the standards for premises and equipment used in test centres
* to stipulate the qualifications and training requirements for testers
* to provide general oversight support to local authorities.

Each county and city council is currently responsible for the supervision of the roadworthiness-testing scheme in its functional area and for ensuring that testing is being carried out in a proper manner in line with the standards laid down by the RSA.