At a recent roundtable discussion in Kyrgyzstan, as part of the ongoing TRACECA project, involving both EASST and their Kyrgyzstan partner NGO; Public Association ‘Road Safety’, Dusan Mladenovic, PhD,Msc,dipl.ing, of the Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Serbia gave a presentation on the importance of thorough vehicle inspections, and their positive effect on accident statistics.
The European Economic Convention 1997, identified the key points of importance for vehicle inspection.These were:
Verification of vehicle identity
Braking system
Steering system
Visibility
Lighting/electrical systems
Axles
Wheels
Tyres
Suspension
Chassis
Environmental protection
Mr Mladenovic referenced recent studies carried out by the German vehicle inspection company ‘DEKRA’ which showed evidence of a direct correlation between the occurrence of vehicle technical problems, and the frequency of accidents.
In Germany, where the average age of a car is 7 years, it was identified that the 3 most prolific faults contributing to accidents were:
1st – in 28% of accidents: Brake system fault/failure
2nd – in 27% of accidents: light faults/failures
3rd – in 22% of accidents: Brake pad deterioration/faults
In contrast, the average age of a car in Kyrgyzstan is between 10 and 15 years. After an average of 12 years, cars are likely to develop serious problems with the braking system.
Mr Mladenovic highlighted the need for a complete overhaul in the field of vehicle inspection in Kyrgyzstan, where currently noncommercial, private passenger cars are not obliged to be inspected, despite accounting for 90% of vehicles. This year, The Republic of Kyrgyzstan joined the Eurasian Economic Community, and in accordance with their international treaties which stipulate the introduction of mandatory vehicle checks for all types of cars, Kyrgyzstan will look to implement the necessary changes throughout 2016. As well as the improvements to vehicle inspections, as of January 2016, it is planned that compulsory insurance will be introduced, applying to all types of vehicles in Kyrgyzstan.
Dusan made reference to the standards of vehicle checks that are obligatory in his native Serbia, where cars are inspected every year, by only licensed inspectors. Vehicles passing the necessary checks are issued with a windshield sticker valid until the next scheduled inspection, and data relating to the vehicle is stored in the database of the MVD, similar to the MOT testing carried out yearly in the UK.
Vehicle Inspectors are also closely monitored in Serbia, and are checked regularly both by verification of the data they supply to the MVD database, as well as visits to the garages carrying out the checks. It is required that yearly on November 1st, all public passenger transportation must change to winter tyres. The vehicles are routinely checked by police and failure to comply with this requirement, results in fines. The encouraging result to this stipulation, is a 30% reduction in accidents involving public transport.
Chinara Kasmambetova
TRACECA National Coordinator in Kyrgyzstan, and Director of the NGO Public Association ‘Road Safety’
