By Lara Fominoff (@fomsy1 on Twitter)

Joint forces commercial vehicle inspections well underway in Lethbridge

Aug 16, 2017 | 3:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Lethbridge Police and Peace Officers, along with RCMP, Calgary Police, and Alberta Transportation are conducting a three-day extensive commercial vehicle inspection in the Lethbridge area.
 
 LPS Constable Stewart Seefried says the annual event is meant to try and get unsafe vehicles off the road and to educate drivers.  
 
“When dealing with commercial vehicles, they’re usually larger and much heavier… so the risk or potential risk of injury or damage is much greater when they come into contact with objects.”
 
The operation began on Tuesday, and in just one day, Seefried says 65-per cent of the commercial vehicles that were stopped, failed inspection and were placed out of service.
 
“What we find on average… we usually find in the 30 per cent range that pass. Usually another 30, in that range require attention, which is a fail, but can continue for the day. And another usually 30 percent that are a fail.”
 
Officers are looking for drivers to have the correct insurance and registration, log books, and licenses and safety certificates, along with cargo and mechanical safety.
 
“And then we proceed with the vehicle inspection,” explains Seefried. “That includes things such as cargo securement, dangerous goods… are they contained and carried properly, are they secured properly? Are the straps and devices securing those objects in good condition? Then we look at the mechanical inspection. We go underneath, we check brake adjustment measurements, are they within tolerance, or are they not functioning? Do they have air hoses leaking? Do they have any other defects that might prevent the vehicle from being safely operated?”
 
If a vehicle does fail inspection, the onus can be both on the driver and on the business that owns it. The drivers have to perform pre-trip inspections, but they also have to report issues to their company so they can be fixed.
 
The commercial vehicle inspection will continue through Thursday, August 17.