Section 4: Vehicle safety
There are minimum standards set by law for the condition of your vehicle. You must know these standards and make sure your vehicle complies with the law. This section sets out the basic information you need to know. For further information on the testing of your vehicle please see www.rsa.ie.
As a driver, you must make sure that your vehicle is in good working order. You must ensure that the steering, brakes, front and rear lamps, indicators, reflectors, rear view mirrors, safety belts, speedometer, tyres, windscreen wipers, horn and silencer are checked regularly.
If you are the owner of an electric vehicle, ensure that you are familiar with the charging procedure for your vehicle and also the safe operation of charging points.
Drivers should ensure they are familiar with the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in their vehicles in order to use the features safely and effectively.
As an owner of a commercial vehicle, you must put in place a system for the regular inspection and on-going maintenance of your vehicle and ensure it has a valid Certificate of Roadworthiness. This involves implementing the following measures:
- deciding how often a vehicle is to be inspected, taking into account the
age, mileage and condition of the vehicle; ensuring a daily walk-around check of the vehicle is performed before it is driven in a public place, which involves the inspection of both the inside and outside of the vehicle as well as examination of various items such as the mirrors, seatbelts, tyres, exhaust, and so on; keeping records of all inspections, maintenance and repairs of the vehicle.
For further details on the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT), see www.cvrt.ie.
The RSA advises motorists that it would be useful to have the following items available for use in your vehicle:
- a first aid kit,
at least 1 high-viz vest or jacket (fluorescent and reflective),