The Nightmare of Wheel Loss :

A Simple Solution

The number of LGV and PSV wheel fixing problems are startlingly high.  Estimates are that annually there are up to 11,000 cases of loose wheel nuts and other defective wheel securing incidents.  There are up to 400 cases of actual wheel losses per year and up to 7 fatal accidents.

Clearly a lose wheel is a highly acute risk to road safety.  Operators and drivers whose vehicles lose wheels can face potential manslaughter charges and time in jail.  They are also exposed to prosecution for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition, whether or not a wheel is actually lost, and operator licences can be revoked.

It is incumbent on Operators to make sure that system are effective in preventing the risk of wheel loss.  Such a system should, as a minimum, include the following :

• Effective daily driver checks – drivers should always give careful attention to wheel security
• A system where drivers check the wheel nuts on a newly replaced wheel after about 50 to 70 kms of driving
• Use wheel nut indicators – a simple, low cost way to see instantly if wheel nuts have come loose

These steps can be supplemented by regular (eg weekly) wheel checks in the yard and drivers checking wheels each time they stop.

NA Commercial Solicitors has represented several operators over the last three months whose vehicles have lost wheels.  Fortunately none of these resulted in injuries or fatalities.  However, in each case the drivers and indeed the operators were affected by what happened, realising how close to a fatal incident they came, only pure luck preventing one.

One of our clients wrote a letter recently in the Commercial Motor Magazine.  The letter is worth reading in full by all operators of commercial vehicles :

“Dear Operators and Transport Managers : please, please, fit all your vehicles and trailers with wheel nut indicators; it will save people’s lives.

 

I feel the need to write this letter to share the lessons I have learnt as a transport manager after experiencing wheel loss.

 

In 2005 I issued drivers with wheel braces, torches and strict written instructions on checking wheel nuts as part of the morning walk-round check.  A contract was also drawn up with the tyre supplier to check and torque wheel nuts over each month.

 

Unfortunately, a wheel came off a vehicle earlier this year – thankfully, no one was injured.  The vehicle had been serviced and wheel nuts torqued five days prior to the wheel loss.

All wheel nuts were found at the scene.  There were no obvious signs of the wheel nuts being loose for long, and the vehicle had been left in services for 45 minutes some two hours earlier.    

The driver had checked and signed his daily walk-round sheet.  He was confident the wheel nuts were tight before he started his journey some eight hours before the wheel loss. 

It, as we think, the vehicle had been interfered with after his check, then wheel nut pointers are the only way to be sure your wheel nuts are always tight.

I urge you to purchase these wheel nut indicators.  They can save so much heartache to everyone.  Issue your drivers with instructions so when they leave a vehicle unattended they walk around and check the pointers are in place.  It’s simple.  The ordeal I have been through has affected myself and my family.  It only costs £1.29 for each nut.” 

 

An Article Produced in January 2012

For more infromation on this or any other legal matter call us on 01302 775 522