You are in a hurry in the morning, get in and drive off. But the left rear brake light is dead and a front tyre has long been worn. The law puts this on the driver: checking that the vehicle is roadworthy before setting off and keeping it so along the way is the driver’s duty (Art. 37.I.3).
Roadworthy vehicleDefinition
A vehicle whose technical condition and equipment meet the requirements of Annex 1 to the Law «On road traffic» (Art. 30.I).
Who is responsible for what
- The driver checks the vehicle before every trip and keeps it roadworthy on the way (Art. 37.I.3).
- The owner has the vehicle serviced on time and does not let it be used if it fails the requirements, is unregistered or has missed its inspection (Art. 30.II).
- The design may not be changed at will: alterations that upset the gross mass or its distribution over the axles, the centre of gravity or the wheelbase, or that replace the braking or steering system, are prohibited (Art. 30.V).
Annex 1: faults you may not drive with
Annex 1 of the law, the «List of vehicle faults», has seven sections. The items asked most often in the test:
| Section | Fault (examples) |
|---|---|
| I. Braking systems | the service brake does not meet the braking standard; the hydraulic brake line leaks; the parking brake does not hold the vehicle on a slope |
| II. Steering | total free play above the limit (10° for a passenger car); the power steering provided by the design is faulty or missing |
| III. Exterior lights | lights do not work in the set mode or are dirty; headlights are not adjusted; red lights at the front or white lights at the rear (except reversing lights and plate lighting) |
| IV. Wipers and washers | the windscreen wipers do not work in the set mode |
| V. Wheels and tyres | tread below the minimum; exposed cord, cracks or cuts; a wheel bolt is missing or the rim is cracked; radial and cross-ply tyres on the same axle of a car |
| VI. Engine | exhaust emissions above the standard; the fuel system leaks; the exhaust system has been altered to make the engine louder |
| VII. Other | a rear-view mirror is missing; the horn does not work; objects that block the view, or window films, curtains or blinds that break the rules; seat belts missing or unusable; no first-aid kit, fire extinguisher or warning triangle |
| Vehicle | Remaining tread depth, at least |
|---|---|
| Passenger car | 1.6 mm |
| Truck | 1 mm |
| Bus | 2 mm |
| Motorcycle and moped | 0.8 mm |
What must be in the car
- In a bus, car, truck or wheeled tractor: a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle (or a red flashing lamp).
- Trucks over 3.5 t and buses over 5 t maximum permitted mass also carry at least two wheel chocks.
- A motorcycle with a sidecar: a first-aid kit and a warning triangle.
- If any of these is missing, it counts as a fault under Annex 1, item VII.7.
If the car breaks down on the road
Get off the carriageway
Move the vehicle off the carriageway; if that is impossible, pull up to the kerb or onto the shoulder, parallel to the edge, and call a breakdown service (Art. 55.I).
Warn other road users
If you had to stop where stopping is prohibited, or the car is in other road users’ way, switch on the hazard warning lights or set up the warning triangle (Art. 55.II).
Place the triangle correctly
It goes behind the vehicle, in the same lane, at least 30 m away, and in front as well if needed. In a built-up area with heavy traffic it may be placed closer or on the vehicle itself (Art. 55.III).
If the hazard lights do not work
At night or in poor visibility you may use a portable red flashing lamp; it is placed the same way as the triangle (Art. 55.IV).
When the technical inspection is due
| Vehicle | Inspection |
|---|---|
| Passenger car, truck up to 3.5 t maximum permitted mass | first 4 years after manufacture — none; after 4 years — once every 2 years; after 10 years — once a year |
| Bus, truck over 3.5 t, vehicle certified for dangerous goods | first year after manufacture — none; then once a year |
1.4 mm of tread
Problem
The front tyres of Elvin’s car have 1.4 mm of tread left. May he drive it?
Show solutionHide solution
Solution
The minimum for a passenger car is 1.6 mm (Annex 1, V.1), and 1.4 < 1.6.
The driver had to check this before setting off (Art. 37.I.3): the tyres must be replaced.
At night, out of town
Problem
At night, on a road out of town, the engine of Leyla’s car dies. There is a shoulder and the hazard lights work. What must she do?
Show solutionHide solution
Solution
2) Switch on the hazard warning lights (Art. 55.II).
3) Place the warning triangle behind the car, in the same lane, at least 30 m away (Art. 55.III).
4) Call a breakdown service (Art. 55.I).
Remember
- Checking the vehicle before setting off and keeping it roadworthy on the way is the driver’s duty (Art. 37.I.3).
- Minimum tread: car 1.6 mm, truck 1 mm, bus 2 mm, motorcycle and moped 0.8 mm.
- A car must carry a first-aid kit, a fire extinguisher and a warning triangle (Annex 1, VII.7).
- Breakdown: pull over, hazard lights or the triangle; the triangle goes behind, in the same lane, at least 30 m away (Art. 55).
- Passenger car: no inspection for the first 4 years, then every 2 years, and every year after 10 years (Art. 30.VI).