This is the second time in three months that Wellington buses have been ordered off the road – in spite of assurances from the company that problems had been fixed.
The latest joint NZTA and police sting surpassed the 11 buses pink stickered in May – a situation which contributed to thousands of passengers waiting for buses that never arrived.
”Given all the work we have done with the company we would have hoped things would have improved,” police spokesman Ross Henderson says.
The operation began at 8.30am yesterday, reports stuff.co.nz
. 18 buses had been ordered off the road, all due to leaking flammable fluids which is a fire hazard.
Other issues had been found including loose battery boxes, and a door of one bus that closed with too much pressure.
Problems of no-show buses continued for weeks in May while safety issues were ‘fixed’.
“The bus operator had assured police and NZTA problems found in checks in May had been fixed,” NZTA spokeswoman Kate Styles Says..
”If serious safety faults are detected, then action will be taken, as ensuring public safety is our top priority,” police Commercial Vehicle Investigation Unit senior sergeant Willie Roy adds.
Roy says police were left with little choice – to order the buses off the road – when public safety was at stake.
“We feel for those commuters who now face potential disruption because of the failure by the operator to address these significant safety issues, which they have been aware of for several months,’’ he says.
r Roy says all 18 of the vehicles pink stickered and ordered off the road had serious oil leaks – an obvious fire hazard.
Eleven of the faults were found on Go Wellington buses, six on Cityline buses and one on a North City bus.
Roy says safety inspectors had also issued three green stickers for faults that were less critical but still needed immediate attention and had to be fixed within seven days.
