School Bus Checks Carried Out In Bala

Safety checks were carried out on school buses in the Bala area yesterday (Thursday, September 15th) by officers from the Commercial Vehicle Unit. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Working in conjunction with the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) a total of five buses were stopped and checked once the children had been taken to school. Other vehicles were also routinely stopped. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Prohibitions were given on some of the school buses – including a delayed prohibition for a vandalised seatbelt and a second delayed prohibition for an obstruction on the gangway. Two Inspection Notices were given for an incomplete first aid kit and an emergency door not opening wide enough. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Three of the five bus vehicles were also issued notices for having no or inadequate school bus signs displayed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

General vehicle checks were also carried out during the morning. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

One vehicle towing a trailer was given an immediate prohibition for having two defective tyres on the vehicle and two defective tyres on the trailer that it was towing. The trailer tyres were worn whereby the breaker cords had damaged in the tread area. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Two immediate prohibitions were issued for stop lights being inoperative on a trailer and an immediate prohibition was given for an inoperative indicator on a trailer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A delayed prohibition was given to another vehicle for a loose wheel nut and another delayed prohibition was given due to a fault with the EBS (Electronic Braking System). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

PC Nicholas Power from North Wales Police’ Commercial Vehicle Unit said: “The school bus checks were carried out to ensure children are being conveyed safely in well-maintained vehicles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With the new school term having just begun we would have expected all buses to have passed the inspection with flying colours. Sadly, this was not the case so we are using this opportunity to remind all bus companies to ensure the roadworthiness of their vehicles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Equally we are also calling on all drivers to ensure their vehicles are kept well maintained and that they comply with the law – not only for their own safety but also for that of other road users. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The majority of drivers abide by the rules of the road, but it’s clear that some are still ignoring the laws that are there to keep them safe. It’s not about catching people out, it’s about highlighting the dangers and encouraging motorists to put road safety first. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He added: “This is all part of our ongoing commitment to keeping the roads safe for all. Further checks will be carried out and we will continue to take action against drivers who commit offences on our roads.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​