Labour MP maintains position on commercial vehicle wheel safety

Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East Paul Goggins has reiterated his full support for Motor Wheel Service’s commercial vehicle wheel safety campaign and promised to maintain pressure on the Department for Transport. MWS, which is headquartered in the MP’s constituency, raised concerns about the lack of examination expertise applied to second hand and take-off wheels that are entering the UK CV aftermarket. Its belief that the problem could be increasing due to financial pressures and a lack of regulation for this market was discussed in a Private Members’ Debate in March 2011, for which Goggins was awarded Parliamentarian of the Month, by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line.

At a recent meeting with MWS managing director John Ellis, Goggins stated his intent to continue discussions with Mike Penning MP, parliamentary under-secretary of state for Transport, until all actions have been met as agreed in their Westminster debate on 29 March.

MWS says the discussions will include further efforts to make sure the Minister keeps to his agreement to appoint a relevant named official in an appropriate department as the main point of contact between industry and Government.

MWS estimates that over 10,000 second hand and take-off wheels entered the market in 2009, of which the large majority were sold by companies who do not possess the technical abilities or examination procedures to ascertain the history and fatigue of a wheel.

The company has constantly urged quality assurance managers to check their supply lines. Should a wheel fail and lead to the injury or death of either the driver or a third-party possible repercussions include a fine, a licence suspension or, in the worst case scenario, corporate manslaughter charges.

Related news:

• Paul Goggins MP wins Parliamentarian of the Month award for wheel efforts
• Is the government doing enough to halt fitment of defective wheels?
• Paul Goggins MP to debate wheel safety in Parliament