Watch out for dodgy motors

Monday 20 October 2014

Traffic Inspectors are warning Islanders not to drive around in dodgy motors putting other road users in danger.

Eight vehicles were so bad they were taken straight off the roads and impounded during routine road checks in the rush hour last month.

Almost 2,500 vehicles passed through the checks - 48 were pulled up for defects and as well as the eight impounded, 18 drivers were issued with defect notices and another 10 had to attend Parish Hall enquiries because they weren’t displaying a valid insurance disc. 13 had lighting defects and others had oil leaks, broken mirrors, noisy exhausts, defective bodywork and worn tyres.

One driver in St Mary had to go to a Parish Hall enquiry because they had been driving around in a vehicle that hadn’t been registered in the Island for the last five years and for not getting a valid Jersey driving license in time.

The Inspector of Motor Traffic Gordon Forrest said: ”I am seriously concerned that some drivers are prepared to put themselves and other road users at risk by driving vehicles in such poor condition.

“I hope drivers will take this as a warning and thoroughly check over their vehicles to ensure that they are roadworthy. We will be conducting more of these checks with our colleagues from the other services in the near future and I hope we will not be seeing vehicles in such poor condition.”

The joint operation was carried out by officers from Driver and Vehicle Standards, the Police, Customs and Immigration and the Honorary police.