Annual Report 2009(PDF) - Road Safety Authority

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Technical Advisory Forum During 2009, the Technical Advisory Forum continued to advise the RSA on the future technical standards and contents of the national car and commercial vehicle roadworthiness tests. The Forum is comprised of representatives of the DIT, NCT, SIMI, RSA Vehicle Inspectorate, Local Authority Authorised Officers, An Garda Síochána, the Taxi Regulator’s office, VTN Testers Committee, AA, Irish Tyre Industry Association and NSAI. By the end of 2009, work was well advanced on new NCT and Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) test manuals. Vehicle Testing NCTS contract 2010 to 2019 Following a tender procurement process in 2008, the RSA awarded the contract for the provision of the National Car Testing Service from 2010 to 2019 to Applus+ Servicios Tecnologicos (Applus+). Applus+ is a leading company in testing, certification and technological services. The RSA worked with the existing and new contractor throughout 2009 to ensure a smooth transition to the new contractor in January 2010 and to minimise any disruption to the service. The key issues managed during 2009 were the transfer of the 44 test centres and more than 500 staff as well as ensuring systems were in place for testing and booking. The new contractor was also required to provide two new test centres at Carndonagh, Co. Donegal and Greenhills, Tallaght, Co. Dublin. Applus+ took over the NCTS on 4th January 2010. NCT test In accordance with Directive 2009/40 EC, Member States of the European Union are required to have arrangements in place for the compulsory periodic roadworthiness testing of motor vehicles and trailers registered by them. Since 13th September 2006, the RSA has had responsibility for vehicle testing, including the operation of the national car testing contract. NCTS The NCTS in Ireland was provided by the National Car Testing Service Ltd from January 2000 to December 2009. The operator was under contract to the RSA to meet a range of performance standards for the NCT including customer service, premises, test equipment, staff, test arrangements, facilities management and management information technology. The performance standards are designed to ensure test integrity and a high level of customer service. The RSA is assisted by a Supervision Services Contractor (SSC) in supervising and monitoring the performance of the NCTS to ensure that it is providing the car testing service in accordance with the terms of the contract between the Company and the RSA. In 2009, there were 44 NCT test centres with at least one centre in each county. The centres are located so that at least 90% of motorists are within 30 miles of their nearest centre. Following public consultation in 2009, the RSA proposed that a number of new test items be added to the NCT from 1st April 2010. The new items, which were signed into law by the Minister in December 2009, include: • Opacity of windscreen and front side windows; • Rear fog lamp; • Reverse lamp; • Tyres – E or e mark required; • Malfunction indicators for Airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems and Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) / Anti-Lock Brake system (ABS); • Rear registration plate lamp; • Vehicle exhaust noise. Number of Tests conducted by NCTS On 13th April 2009, the Minister for Transport announced that a conviction for the non display of a valid NCT Certificate would attract up to five penalty points. The announcement created unprecedented demand and a record 864,499 full tests were undertaken in 2009. It is estimated that approximately 80,000 vehicles booked after April 2009 should have been tested in 2008. A further 5,500 should have been tested in 2007. The announcement was hugely effective in bringing large numbers of vehicles, which had expired roadworthiness certificates, back into the testing system. 42
Currently cars are due a roadworthiness test once they are four years old and every two years thereafter. Annual testing is to be introduced in June 2011 for cars over 10 years old. • In 2007, 686,705 full tests were conducted with a pass rate of 51.8% while 330,997 retests were conducted with a pass rate of 86.3%. • In 2008, 835,802 full tests were conducted with a pass rate of 51.9% while 402,125 retests were conducted with a pass rate of 86.8%. • In 2009 864,499 full tests were conducted with a pass rate of 51.5% while 367,467 retests were conducted with a pass rate of 90.7% Commercial Vehicle Testing The annual testing of commercial vehicles in Ireland is carried out by over 147 privately operated test centres which are appointed and supervised by the Local Authorities. According to returns made to the RSA by test centres, some 119,278 Heavy Goods Vehicle tests (an increase of 10% over 2008) and 382,751 Light Goods Vehicle tests (an increase of 21% over 2008) were completed in 2009. In 2009, RSA Vehicle Inspectors made 257 Vehicle Testing Network test centre visits to review compliance with commercial vehicle test centre standards and consistency of testing. Issues identified were followed up with the Local Authorities who are responsible for licensing and supervising commercial vehicle test centres. Roadside checks on commercial vehicle roadworthiness The Gardaí are responsible for enforcing the roadworthiness of commercial vehicles on the roadside. They are supported by the RSA in this function. RSA Vehicle Inspectors participated in 299 roadside checkpoints in 2009 which represents an increase of over 30% from 2008. Roadworthiness checks were completed on 2,585 trucks and buses and these checks revealed that 1,147 vehicles had defects. Of the vehicles inspected by RSA Vehicle Inspectors, 21% had lighting / marking defects, 17% had braking defects and 12% had defective wheels / tyres. Reports from other EU Member States on Irish commercial vehicles During 2009, the RSA received reports from the UK Vehicle Operator Standards Agency (VOSA) that 5,338 Irish commercial vehicles had been stopped in the UK with vehicle defects and that 29% of these defects were classed as serious. Over 57% of the defective vehicles reported by VOSA were trailers and 28% of trailer defects were serious defects. In 2009, the RSA recorded and reviewed all reports received. In the case of serious vehicle defects, operators were contacted by letter and requested to forward details of all rectification work carried out. Operator Maintenance Programme In 2009, the RSA commenced a pilot operator maintenance programme with the aim of heightening the importance and benefits for an operator in having an effective preventative vehicle maintenance system. RSA Vehicle Inspectors visited a number of operators to assess their maintenance systems and advise on improvements. Many elements of an effective preventative maintenance system are simple low cost, common sense solutions that can be easily implemented by all operators. There are also many benefits in having an effective vehicle maintenance system in place including increased customer satisfaction, fewer vehicle breakdowns, reduced maintenance costs and increased road safety for all road users. The majority of defects found at the roadside could have been noticed by a simple driver walk around check and could have been easily rectified before the vehicle was taken on to the road. At the end of 2009, the RSA was developing a guide to keeping commercial vehicles roadworthy which will be available in 2010. VEHICLE STANDARDS & ENFORCEMENT 43
Page 1: ANNUAL REPORT 2009 An tÚdarás Um
Page 4 and 5: “In 2009, the core target of the
Page 6 and 7: Ireland is now ranked in 7th place
Page 8 and 9: There will be those who say we have
Page 10 and 11: Introduction... ESTABLISHMENT The R
Page 12 and 13: 6 241 people died in road collision
Page 14 and 15: IRELAND’S POSITION ON ROAD SAFETY
Page 16 and 17: Driver Testing and Licensing The Dr
Page 18 and 19: DRIVING TEST RESULTS BY VEHICLE CAT
Page 20 and 21: DRIVER LICENSING There is a common
Page 22 and 23: NUMBER OF PENALTY POINTS (CURRENT)
Page 24 and 25: DRIVER THEORY TEST A person seeking
Page 26: Advertising The main awareness camp
Page 30: DRINKDRIVING.IE The RSA launched a
Page 34 and 35: Back to School Campaign In 2009, th
Page 36 and 37: Community Road Safety Programme The
Page 38 and 39: International Conference on ‘Road
Page 40 and 41: ‘World Remembrance Day’ On Sund
Page 42 and 43: Road Safety Research The Research D
Page 44 and 45: Attitudinal Surveys The research de
Page 46 and 47: Vehicle Standards & Enforcement The
Page 50 and 51: PASS & FAIL RATES, CENTRE BY CENTRE
Page 52 and 53: The co-ordinated enforcement effort
Page 54 and 55: Corporate Services The Corporate Se
Page 56 and 57: Sports and Social Club In 2009, the
Page 58 and 59: The RSA ICT team have developed pol
Page 60 and 61: Freedom of Information (FOI) The RS
Page 62 and 63: Appendix EXTRACT OF RSA FINANCIAL S
Page 64 and 65: Road Safety Authority STATEMENT OF
Page 66 and 67: Road Safety Authority STATEMENT ON
Page 68 and 69: Road Safety Authority STATEMENT OF
Page 70 and 71: Road Safety Authority INCOME AND EX
Page 73 and 74: Road Safety Authority Working to Sa

Annual Report 2009(PDF) - Road Safety Authority

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