Safety first checks

Oct 24 2008 by Jenny Wood, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

LOCAL drivers are getting some special help to warm up their winter safety this weekend.

To make sure cars are in shape for the gruelling season ahead, local road traffic police officers will be on hand on Friday and Saturday to give vehicles the once over with free safety checks.

Perth-based Sergeant Emma Bowman explained: “We won’t be out to book drivers but we will be there to give advice and make sure cars are safe for winter driving.

“We welcome anyone who wants to bring their car along to get checked,” she added.

Typical winter safety checks which drivers should be carrying out include:

Making sure lamps and reflectors are clean and in good working order.

Taking a look to see washer bottles are topped up with screen wash.

Making sure wiper blades are in good condition and windows clean and free from defects.

Drivers should also check the tread on their tyres to ensure their car is in safe, and legal, contact with the road.

Sgt Bowman said: “If we find anything wrong we will issue a vehicle defect form, which gives the driver a few days to get the problem rectified.

“It is much more important for us that they get the problem sorted rather than just driving off with penalty points,” she explained.

“If a vehicle was found to be in a dangerous condition we would have to consider taking the appropriate action,” warned the officer.

Road traffic officers will set up a checkpoint on Perth’s Edinburgh Road on Friday and Saturday morning.

They will be stopping vehicles to carry out the inspections and any driver is welcome to request their car is checked to receive the experts’ advice.