|
Good Morning; Here at the police station it’s vehicle check Dav!
Each week every vehicle in GMPs fleet receives a formal vehicle check and inspection by officers and staff. This check is more in-depth than the daily or handover check the vehicles receive as they are passed from one driver to the next.
Getting into the habit of checking vehicle regularly is great advice, not just for police vehicles or commercial vehicles but for everyone driving a vehicle.
So why not join in vehicle check Sunday?
Most vehicle handbooks will offer advice and guidance as to what should be checked for each individual vehicle but the following list is a guide.
Walk around the vehicle is there any damage, sharp edges or unclipped / loose trim?
Check the windscreen for damage that needs repairs.
Check and clean if required wiper blades.
Look at each wheel and tyre, are there any cuts, visible damage, bulges, splits or cracking? Are the wheel nuts / bolts all present and tight?
Tyres - Check tyre pressure and measure tyre depth. Check the handbook or inside door reveals to find the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle, usage and tyre / wheel sizes. For most cars the legal minimum is 1.6mm however it is recommended that tyres are changed at the 3mm as performance deteriorates as the tyre wears. Check to ensure the tread is the same depth across the tyre and that there is nothing stuck in the tread or between the tyres of a double axle vehicle.
Lighting – Check all the driving lights, indicators, fog lamps, brake lights and reversing lights, if you haven’t got someone to help consider using a reflection in a window or use your phone to record a video while you operate the controls to check.
Under the bonnet check fluids including oil, brake fluid, coolant, power steering and automatic transmission fluids are between the min & max marks. Check the manual for your vehicle for how to check the levels if you are unsure.
Check and top up windscreen washer fluids as required - Remember that the concentration of screen wash concentrate may need to be increased in winter to avoid freezing – Check the bottle for instructions.
Inside the car check that seat belt, clips and receivers are all in good condition and operate correctly. Check that seats are secure and locked in place, check to ensure there are no loose items of carpet, mats or trim the could foul the operation of the pedals.
Check the windows & mirrors – do they need cleaning?, does anything obstruct or limit the view through the window such as stickers, permits, parking tickets, GPS devices, phone holders, air fresheners etc block your view?
First Aid Kit – Not obligatory, but a good idea to keep in the car – Check it is in date and fully stocked.
Documents – Check your MOT, insurance, VEL (road tax) and driving licence are all valid and in date.
Driving – Turn the radio down, are there any unusual knocks, bangs, rattles, groans, squeaks or squeals as you drive along / over imperfections. These can often be signs of brake, suspension or engine wear that can lead to failures and even loss of control. Consider getting all unusual noises investigated immediately – Don’t wait for he next service or MOT!
Last but not least - Lock the car in the usual way. Then go back to the car and check that ALL the doors are locked, including the boot, its not unknown for locking mechanisms to fail or need adjustment – even on new cars. For cars that don’t require a button press or physical key in the lock to unlock check that with the key stored in the usual place in the house that the vehicle remains locked.
The above list can often be completed in less than 10 mins – if you share the vehicle with someone else why not get them to make a brew while you do the vehicle checks? If you have teenagers why not get them to help – preparing them for a life on the road. Consider if elderly relatives or neighbours may need help to conduct the checks to help keep them and other safe on the road?
Conducting a vehicle check can often find small issues before they become bigger dangerous or expensive issues or even issues that may result in fines and prosecution if found by Police.
|
