Transport Checks Carried Out In Gwynedd & Anglesey

Over 60 vehicles were inspected during road safety checks carried out by North Wales Police and Gwynedd Council over two days last week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

School transport checks were carried out in the Penrhyndeudraeth area on Tuesday, November 15th involving North Wales Police, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA – formally known as VOSA) and the local authority. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

During the morning checks, over ten vehicles were examined. No immediate defects were found but drivers were issued with delayed prohibitions for defective seatbelts and ABS warning light. Advisory notices were also handed out for seatbelts, batteries and doors. Drivers were also advised to keep their washer fluids topped up and to make sure that their fire extinguishers were present. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

On Thursday, November 17th further school transport checks were carried out in the Caernarfon area where over 20 vehicles were examined. Immediate prohibitions were issued for defective indicators and a damaged seat. There was also a delayed prohibition for a deteriorated seat belt. Drivers were also advised regarding defective number plate lights, fire extinguishers and first aid kits being present and in date. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Sergeant Trystan Bevan, from North Wales Police’ Roads Policing Unit said: “It is disappointing that all drivers with the responsibility for transporting children don’t spend their time checking their vehicles are roadworthy before use. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“We want to ensure that children have a safe journey to and from school and I would urge all drivers to carry out simple checks ahead of their journey, such as checks on lights, brakes and tyres, especially as we now approach the winter months.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

A spokesperson for Gwynedd Council’s Transportation Unit said that working together with other agencies is important to ensure the safety of learners transported in the county. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Checks were also carried out at the weighbridge in Dalar Hir, Anglesey during the week and the Commercial Vehicle Unit reported offences to the value of £2600 for motoring offences ranging from private cars to 44’000kg heavy goods vehicles. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​