Minister Carlisle Joins SANTACO's Mandla Mata for Free Vehicle Safety Test

Robin Carlisle, the Minister of Transport and Public Works in the Western Cape, and Mandla Mata, the first Deputy Chairman of the South African National Taxi Council in the Western Cape, today took their private car and taxi respectively for a free safety test at the AVTS in the Airport Industria.

The free safety tests, which have run from 28 November and will run until 10 January 2012, are offered by members of the National Vehicle Testing Association (NVTA) and are available for private cars only.

According to Ferose Oaten, the owner of AVTS, so far the owners of 51 cars have accessed the free tests at this particular testing station - 39 of them, or 76.4%, failed.

The NVTA says it is estimated that close to 10% of fatal crashes occur directly as a result of vehicle factors, while vehicle factors are a contributory factor in around 13%. Of these, 36% are believed to be due to impaired and smooth tyres, 25% as the result of faulty brakes, 25% due to defective steering and 15% to additional vehicle factors.

"I would like to encourage anybody going on holiday to contribute towards our Safely Home campaign by taking your car for a safety test," Minister Carlisle says.

"You may think your car is in tiptop shape, but, as I found out last year, there could actually be concealed defects."

This year the ministerial vehicle scored 100% in the test, which covers ten "safety critical" items related to braking and steering systems, lighting, the condition of tyres, seatbelts, the suspension, wheel alignment and wipers.

The SANTACO first Deputy Chairperson was not so lucky - while the front number plate of his taxi was cracked, a hammer in a bracket on the inside for breaking the emergency window had been removed.

"Otherwise, his taxi is in excellent condition," said Ferose Oaten.

"Of course I will ask Oscar (my driver) to fix these defects as soon as possible," he promised.