Roadcheck 99: National vehicle OOS rate stalls at 24%

OTTAWA (June 14) — Nearly one in four commercial vehicles failed to pass a roadside safety check during Roadcheck 99, unchanged from last year and ending three years of steady improvement.

The 24% national average vehicle out-of-service rate is based on a preliminary report by the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, which co-ordinates the annual event in Canada. The average out-of-service rate for drivers was 2.2%, up slightly from 1.8% last year.

Provincial safety inspectors stopped 10,284 vehicles and drivers during the 72-hour campaign, held June 1, 2, and 3. Of those vehicles, 3468 were not checked because they had a valid decal indicating they had passed a recent inspection. Including these vehicles, the national average OOS rate would drop to 16%, also unchanged from 1998.

Of the vehicles placed out of service, 16% had various defects serious enough to require repairs on site or to be towed away for more extensive repairs. Brake-related problems continued to be the leading cause of out-of-service violations. In most cases, drivers were able to make the necessary adjustments on site to allow their vehicle to pass a second inspection.

Trucks and drivers are inspected to fitness standards developed by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance, an association of enforcement agencies in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico.

Figures from Nova Scotia were not included because they were not available.

Of the 11 jurisdictions reporting, Ontario showed the greatest improvement: 25% of 1926 vehicles checked received an out-of-service violation; in 1998, the figure was 29% of 2824 trucks.

B.C.: 1154 trucks inspected, 22% out of service, 15% with “passed” trucks included (vehicles stopped at random but not inspected due to the presence of a valid CVSA decal); 9% of OOS vehicles towed away or requiring major repairs.

Alberta: 855 trucks inspected, 24% out of service, 15% with passed trucks included; 5% of OOS vehicles towed.

Saskatchewan: 451 trucks inspected, 19% out of service, 15% with passed trucks included; 17% of OOS vehicles towed.

Manitoba: 449 trucks inspected, 25% out of service, 19% with passed trucks included; 20% of OOS vehicles towed.

Ontario: 1926 trucks inspected, 25% out of service, 13% with passed trucks included; 28% of OOS vehicles towed.

Quebec: 1206 trucks inspected, 23% out of service, 20% with passed trucks included; 5% of OOS vehicles towed.

N.B. 282 trucks inspected, 34% out of service, 29% with passed trucks included; 34% of OOS vehicles towed.

P.E.I.: 138 trucks inspected, 36% out of service, 28% with passed trucks included; 36% of OOS vehicles towed.

Newfoundland: 173 trucks inspected, 25% out of service, 23% with passed trucks included; 21% of OOS vehicles towed.

Yukon: 92 trucks inspected, 16% out of service, 12% with passed trucks included; 15% of OOS vehicles towed.

N.W.T.: 90 trucks inspected, 26% out of service, 19% with passed trucks included; 16% of OOS vehicles towed.