Commercial Vehicle Checkstop Ensures Safety for All on the Road

LETHBRIDGE – Lethbridge Police alongside a number of other enforcement organizations are out for their annual unsafe commercial vehicle checkstops.
 
It started on Tuesday with a total of 31 vehicles stopped. Of that number, six passed inspection and 22 were placed out of service. Officers also observed 52 traffic violation and two dangerous goods violations.
 
They are checking for mechanical, equipment and driver credential violations.
 
Constable Stewart Seefried says the operation is smaller this year due to budget cuts, and it’s showing in the numbers. He noted that the program usually averages 50-per cent out of service, 20-per cent requiring attention with only approximately 20-per cent passing the inspection.
 
“We are focussing more on specific vehicles, so [this year’s numbers] may be skewed a little higher than normal. But it’s always alarming the number of vehicles that are on the road that are found to have defects that are unsafe,” Seefried adds.
 
He noted that this checkstop program is really for everyone’s safety on the road, since damage or injuries can be much more severe in collisions with large trucks and loads.
 
The checkstop continues into Thursday afternoon.