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Question:
Hi Can a public bus be considered road worthy if, when switched off, it has to be jump started due to battery problems? Thank you for you help
Answer:
With reference to your enquiry regarding the roadworthiness of vehicles, I wish to advise as follows:
- Attached for your information please find Appendix B which forms part of the Code of Practice for the testing of heavy vehicles for roadworthiness.
- Although batteries do not form part of the inspection of a vehicle for roadworthiness it is a maintenance issue. Without knowing the exact circumstamces for your question as to whether a vehicle is roadworthy if the battery is faulty, I wish to advise that as we experience with our private motor vehicles that a battery can become faulty at any stage, especially in winter the same applies to a bus battery. Many of these vehicles are not kept under roof at night and this affects the life of a battery. If the battery becomes dysfunctional during the day whilst operating, well-equipped operators will send a maintenance team to replace the battery. In other instances it will be replaced when the vehicle returns to the depot for a roadworthy inspection. If this does not happen it is bad maintenance practice and unacceptable.
- Such bad maintenance practice can be reported to a Provincial Regulatory Entity which issues the operating licence to the operator and should be taken into account when the operator’s operating licence comes up for renewal.
I trust the above clarifies the matter.
Eric Cornelius
Executive Manager
SABOA
Also view:
Road Safety Checklist for Trucks and Buses