Calgary police say half of the almost 200 commercial vehicles checked during a three-day inspection last week had “critical defects.” The commercial vehicle inspection ran from Sept. 15 to 17. In total, police say 197 vehicles were inspected, 100 of which had had critical defects that placed them out of service (51 per cent). Another 36 vehicles (18 per cent) were found to have defects that “required attention.” Only 61 vehicles, (31 per cent), passed the inspection. “Commercial vehicle drivers perform a critical service for Calgarians, transporting important goods we all rely on,” said Insp. Robert Patterson. “However, it’s critical that those vehicles meet all legal standards to ensure the safety of everyone on the road.” Police say 98 tickets were handed out. One driver was charged with operating a commercial vehicle without a valid license. The most common issues were worn tires, poorly secured cargo and inadequate brakes. Police say they also found defective headlights, faulty steering systems and leaking fuel tanks. During a commercial vehicle inspection in the spring, 48 per cent of vehicles had critical defects.
