Free Vehicle Safety Checks for Easter

The Western Cape Retail Motor Industry (RMI) has again partnered with the Safely Home campaign to provide motorists in the province with free vehicle safety checks ahead of the Easter period.

The participating members of the National Vehicle Testing Stations Association will provide the free vehicle safety checks from today onwards until Thursday, 21 April 2011.

Minister Robin Carlisle has urged all motorists in the Western Cape to take full advantage of the Free Safety Checks provided by volunteering vehicle testing stations. "I encourage every motorist in the province to take their vehicle to the nearest participating vehicle testing station for a free safety check. Safer vehicles are an important element in making our roads safe."

"The government, on its own, cannot win the war against the carnage on our roads without the support of the private sector, non-governmental organizations and the public. It is partnerships like this that will help us prevent avoidable road crashes and fatalities. We can save a lot of lives on roads if we all take responsibility for road safety and I'm pleased that the vehicle testing stations industry is playing its part with the provision of these free vehicle safety checks."

The RMI's CEO, Jeff Osborne highlighted that the aim of the campaign is to help save lives on the roads. "A safe vehicle can be the difference between life and death on the roads. With the Easter holidays being synonymous with a high rate of road deaths and injuries, we would like to check as many vehicles as possible to ensure that all, if not many, of the vehicles that are on our roads are safe." The free checks focus on critical safety elements of the vehicle such as:

• Tyres
• Brakes
• including the parking brake
• Steering mechanisms including control arms
• steering boxes and tie rod ends
• Front and rear suspension
• Lights and indicators
• Windscreen wipers
• Seat belts
• Exhaust systems
• Wheel alignment

In a similar campaign - held prior to last year's Easter holiday period - 78% of vehicles tested were found to require repairs relating to safety critical defects. For details of participating testing stations contact the Cape Town offices at 021 939 9440.

A list of participating vehicle testing stations can be found here.