Motor Traffic Dept. to streamline road worthiness certificates
View(s):The Motor Traffic Department (MTD) is to streamline the issue of road worthiness certificates for motorists as it has received complaints relating to a large number vehicles breaking down on main roads and highways, MTD sources revealed. According to a survey conducted by the Traffic Police, emergency vehicles operated on southern expressway by Sri Lanka road agency has to tow an average of 700 to 800 vehicles per month and the cost to tow each vehicle was around Rs.1500, a senior officil of the department said.
At present a ‘certificate of fitness’ (certificate for road worthiness) has been made compulsory for commercial vehicles such as bus, motor coach, motor tricycle van, lorry, motor hearse or motor ambulance.The MTD is considering amending the Motor Traffic Act so that the certificate of fitness for all used vehicles is issued after increasing the number of places of inspections and streamlining the process.At present the inspection and the issuing of certificate of fitness is being carried out at Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) workshops and garages countrywide authorised by the MTD, he pointed out.
The owners of private buses and trucks are not visiting SLTB workshops to obtain these certificates to avoid the proper testing and inspection process, a senior Traffic police officer said, adding that they tend to visit authorised garages as some them issue certificates of fitness without even checking the vehicle. Fully trained mechanics should be deployed by the owners of authorised garages to carry out inspections and testing in 12 sections of the vehicle including the engine, the body, chassis and tyres.A fitness certificate should be issued only after the inspection and the vehicle is fully road worthy in accordance with stipulated standards.