Seeing a vehicle with dangerous mechanical defects

[meangreen01]

To avoid hijacking a recent thread, I'll sort of piggyback here.

There are many hazards motorists face on the roads. Drunks can be one of them, and society has endorsed taking action by reporting them directly to police via cell phone.

A hazard I see more frequently is vehicles in poor mechanical condition. So, what do you do when you see a vehicle in poor shape that causes danger to other motorists?

A few examples I have seen over just the past several weeks:

-Vehicles with multiple brake lights out

-Wheels held on by only 2 out of 5 lug nuts

-Suspensions in total disrepair(wheel on tilt because of broken bent A-arm or ball joint)

-Exhaust components dragging, sparking, and ready to fall off

-Bald tires

-Badly cracked windshield

Aside from brake lights, I have never reported or approached a driver or authorities regarding the dangerous state of their vehicles, and the risk others are put in when they choose to drive them in that condition.

Maybe it's because I tend to keep to myself. But as we're trying to clean up our roadways and eliminate risk, should we be doing more?

 

[JHZR2]

But... People can maintain their own cars so there is zero need for automobile inspection...

 

[crazyoildude]

HaHa zero need for safety inspections! Actually i am for safety inspections i know it is a pain sometimes but at least it will make the roads a little safer

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
But... People can maintain their own cars so there is zero need for automobile inspection...


Thanks for the well thought out reply. One in the no column.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
I have never reported or approached a driver or authorities regarding the dangerous state of their vehicles,
You are right not to approach the driver. You never know what kind of maniac they might be and you could put yourself in harm's way. I see no problem with jotting down the plate number and reporting an extreme safety violation to the local constabulary. Whether they will give a [censored] is another question.
Quote:
But as we're trying to clean up our roadways and eliminate risk, should we be doing more?
Depends on whether your local authorities encourage that kind of input of if they consider it a case of unwanted meddling. Personally, if I see someone with a headlight out or something similar, they could have just discovered it on their way home from church, so it would be wrong to drop a dime on them. OTOH, a car with bald tires with the cords showing through and one wheel listing at a 45° angle along with a cracked windscreen and dents all over the place might be a different story.

 

[CivicFan]

I was behind an Acura MDX the other day that didn't have brake lights. I almost smacked it at an intersection.

But did not approach the driver - you never know if they are carrying a gun or not.

BTW, we do not have safety inspections in this state so my guess is that someone is going to rear-end that car in the future.

 

[meangreen01]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
HaHa zero need for safety inspections! Actually i am for safety inspections i know it is a pain sometimes but at least it will make the roads a little safer


Would you support something more along the lines of immediate citizen intervention, i.e. reporting it? We all know that vehicle problems can arise very quickly, or a marginal defect can go from marginal to outright dangerous between annual or biennial inspections.

I know here in WI our vehicles are inspected for emission compliance every other year. Many people with CEL's don't address the problem and delay taking action until their inspection is due.

Emissions clearly isn't the dangerous risk driving on four bald tires is in a downpour, and I only mention it to point out many people neglect needed repairs that can put others at risk until they fear nearing sanctions.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: meangreen01
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
But... People can maintain their own cars so there is zero need for automobile inspection...


Thanks for the well thought out reply. One in the no column.


Actually it is. LOTS of folks belittle the safety inspection process, and in the interest of budget cuts and "trust" in the population, safety inspections are going by the wayside.

Yet there are people who could care less.

Add on top of it the prevalence of excessively sized ($$$) tires and brakes, expensive safety systems, etc., and average Joe isnt going to keep up their cars.

Then they will be less safe than a car without all the "stuff".

Yet, you tell people as a private citizen to private citizen that there is something wrong, the either get offended, dont care, or just agree.

I was filling up with gas and there was a ford focus with a bunch of kids in it. Rear tires were both underinflated, one severely. I told the guy pumping gas about it. I got an "I know". What am I supposed to do about it?

At least a failed safety inspection turns into a traceable, events-driven end game.

 

[The_Jeff]

Write your local congressman.

The problem with your idea/grievance, which would turn into mandatory inspections, is that dealer/mechanic trade groups would jump on board, and it would turn into an "us vs them" fight.

And you'd have to first cut down on the OUIs and texting drivers, who cause most accidents, to filter to those caused by mechanical defects. And the investigating cop would probably put in the paperwork something like "driving too fast for conditions"; cops aren't mechanics. Without the statistics to back up your need, little will be done.

 

[PandaBear]

I see this pretty often, usually honk and let them know (politely). Sometimes I got polite response and if they tell me to mind my own business, that's their business too if they get into accident. Many times they just didn't know or didn't think it was that severe (unless someone tell them).

 

[Spazdog]

Good point.

The hydrofrac salt water truck drivers are the worst drivers in the world with the worstequipment....ever.

They pull out into oncoming traffic with no regard for oncoming cars so you are going to have to stop hard to avoid them. Then if you are wise you'll lay back because they will eventually get up to speed and all those rocks and all that mud packed in between their trailer tires is spun out with deadly velocity. And you know they only have one mudflap and it's hanging half off at a 45° angle.

You can't see the taillights reflectors or trailer license plate. They are buried under 1/2 inch of mud and lime. Makes them invisible at night until you are within rock flinging range.

All the baffling in the world isn't going to keep X-thousand gallons of salt water still. They don't give a [darn] "Hey buddy, this here load wants me to be in yer lane..."

But then again there is the innocuous. The Essex V6 Mustang with blue LED wiper nozzles. The "hecka-flush" Civic with the stupid tire fitment. The 3.4 Camaro with the driver side wiper intentionally removed and the passenger wiper halfway up the windshield. The 240SX with the wide open exhaust and the glory that is it's KA24 little truck engine soundtrack....

I don't need to report them. They announce themselves just fine.

... the above will eventually pay. If not in traffic tickets then for the stupidity of their modifications. And having made bad modifications myself in the past, I feel pretty qualified in saying that.

 

[volvos_rock]

If you feel something is that dangerous, call. I can't say what will come out of it but when we get called, we have to answer (obviously use good judgement). It is funny I have mentioned in past threads about enforcement on these sort of violations and have been called tyrant, revenuer, etc...

 

[Rick in PA]

My rule-of-thumb on brake lights is if they are down to one, I'll politely let them know, but only if I can pull aside of them at a red light, get their attention and tell them (that way I can judge the situation). I treat obviously under-inflated tires the same way. However, I wouldn't stop someone to tell them they have a problem. My experience has been most folks are OK and realize you're trying to help them.

 

[greenaccord02]

I just pull up next to them if I get the chance and tell them that their brake light is out. Everybody seems to take it well down here. Most of them are very happy you told them before a cop got to them. For low pressure in the tires, I generally don't tell them unless it looks like it could be a real safety hazard. Usually they're happy to know about it. Some people just don't check.

As far as wheels with few lug nuts go, just fall WAY back.

I saw a redneck the other day with a completely blown out tire on a trailer full of metal scrap. He just smiled real big I said, "I know!" when I got up next to him. He may or may not have been high on meth, but he was certainly positive.

 

[bdcardinal]

I really wish they did safety inspections here. It has to be done correctly to not be turned into a profit generator for shops. Something like a state run inspection station that is not allowed to do repairs beyond changing a light bulb.

The best is the car salesman we have that converted his fox body mustang to 5 lug but only has 4 lugs on each wheel. I almost bought 4 lug nuts myself, but then i remembered the old "no good deed goes unpunished" saying and let it be.

 

[sciphi]

It's a mixed bag living in a state with mandatory yearly inspections. Knowing everybody's car gets looked at once a year is nice because it keeps everything at least minimally maintained, and a new set of tires right before winter for a good number of folks. It is a pain booking the car in, especially for a re-inspection at the end of the month. If the car goes over its 1 year and fails to pass, the garage is allowed to keep the car while making arrangements with the owner for repair or transportation out from the garage.

NY's system is far from perfect. I'd still rather have it than no inspection at all.

 

[hattaresguy]

I really wish we had safety inspections here in this country, CT used to have them but they were phased out.

A MOT or TUV wouldn't be bad at all, get some of the rolling garbage off the road.

 

[MNgopher]

Can anyone point to a study that shows that vehicle safety inspections actually improve vehicle accident and fatality rates? Interesting homework for those pushing the idea that a safety inspection program actually does what is advertised, you know, improves safety.

As far as what do I do if I observe an unsafe vehicle? If it really is an immediate safety hazard, call the authorities. I've done it before and not regretted it.

If its a low tire, brake light out, etc.., I gauge the situation, and choose to mention the issue to them or move on. Several times I have received a positive reaction - a thank you, etc... Sometimes people just don't know.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: MNgopher
Can anyone point to a study that shows that vehicle safety inspections actually improve vehicle accident and fatality rates? Interesting homework for those pushing the idea that a safety inspection program actually does what is advertised, you know, improves safety


When I was growing up, I lived in Canberra (Australia's Capital)...they had annual state run inspections, at a state run facility....and they had the countries lowest death and injury rates.

After a while, numbers of vehicles outgrew their facilities, so they started letting vehicles skip to the exit and just pay registration "randomly". We learned quickly that a wash and wax meant no actual inspection.

In the end, they abandoned the inspections entirely with an argument of "with an annual inspection, people do up their cars for it...with no annual inspection, they will be forced to maintain their cars all year".

Within 5 years, they were moaning about driver behaviour and that the road toll had reached national average levels.

Surely even the most jaded can think that a car with functioning wipers, brakes and tyres is naturally safer than one without such luxuries.

 

[Falcon_LS]

We have an annual inspection program in effect here, but it is pointless. Annual inspections are required for vehicles that are 3 years or older, and is a requirement to renew your registration annually thereafter. That said, comprehensive insurance cannot be purchased for a vehicle older than 5 years of age, which again begs the question "Why?".

As far as the inspection goes, you first renew your insurance and the insurance company gives you all the papers required for inspection. You drive up to a vehicle inspector's desk and they walk around the vehicle to make sure your windshield isn't cracked, your windows aren't tinted, you haven't got any stickers on your car, you haven't got an aftermarket exhaust system and your paint is in good nick. You may be randomly selected to get your turn signals, brake lights and headlights checked, but the main thing they focus on is exhaust smoke (blue, white or black). Some people fail because they are made to rev the living snot out of their engines and there is a little unburnt fuel coming out the exhaust as black carbon.

What does this mean for road safety? A lot of vehicles on the road have stuck brake on/off switches, so you see a vehicle driving past you with their brake lights on. A lot of vehicles have both tail lights out and the only way you know they're braking is the third eye brake light, which also has one bulb burnt out. You see vehicles with unbalanced wheels hopping all over the place as they drive past you, under inflated tires, people driving vehicles with their camber/caster out of spec, vehicles on the road at night with only one headlight...the list goes on.

The cops are more than happy to write you a ticket, afterall they get a bonus if they hand out x number of tickets, but there's obviously a lot of room for improvement. That said, instead of ticketing someone for having a bumper sticker on their car, or confiscating their vehicle for tinted windows, maybe they should start doing something about all the idiots installing 12,000K HIDs in standard halogen housings and blinding the daylights out of everyone on the road.