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Commercial vehicle safety event hosted in New Westminster

New Westminster – Between June 19th and June 20th the NWPD Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Unit and NWPD Traffic Unit, in partnership with Vancouver Police Department, Canadian Pacific Police Service, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement, Burnaby RCMP and BC Highway Patrol, inspected 86 vehicles, in a large scale annual event, to ensure road safety. Similar enforcement events took place throughout the Metro Vancouver region.

The focus of the operation was on commercial vehicles that may not be properly maintained and could ultimately pose a danger on our roads.

The inspectors used their expertise to focus on vehicles that were not likely to pass an inspection. This was accomplished through a quick visual inspection in conjunction with vehicle type and carrier history. Main items checked during inspection are the vehicles’ mechanical components and driver qualifications; specifically brakes, tires, lights, steering, load security, driver licensing and fatigue.

During the two-day initiative, 86 vehicles were inspected, the vast majority of which were light commercial vehicles including: Cargo vans, pick-up trucks, small delivery vehicles and trades vehicles amongst other larger Commercial Vehicles. Of the total inspections, six required repairs to be completed at a later time, and 56 required repairs to be completed prior to proceeding.

“After the two recent collisions at Holmes and Columbia, many residents have been clear with us that they are keen to see more attention paid to commercial vehicles in the city,” stated Sergeant Andrew Leaver. “During this recent initiative officers observed a number of different issues, ranging from minor things that could be repaired on site, to major issues which required the vehicle to be towed. This type of initiative is one of the many different ways that we work towards safer roads.”

Whether you are operating a personal vehicle or a commercial transport – as the driver, you are responsible for not only your driving habits, but also your vehicle maintenance and insurance.

 

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CONTACT PERSON: Sergeant Andrew Leaver
EMAIL: communications@nwpolice.org