By Tim Schewe
Even with limited use, our vehicles eventually wear out and break down. Our legislators have established rules that must be met in order to rent or legally operate a vehicle on the highway. In general, they are contained in the Motor Vehicle Act Regulations and the Vehicle Inspection Regulation.
The first onus is on the driver or renter of a vehicle to insure that it is roadworthy before the key is turned. I’ve examined a daily pre-trip inspection required of commercial vehicle drivers in an article titled “Is Your Vehicle Mechanically Fit?”
The owner may not be driving, but they are still required to exercise reasonable care and due diligence before they allow someone else to use their vehicle. There is even greater responsibility when it is driven by an employee.
If a vehicle is roadworthy at the beginning of a trip but becomes defective along the way, the rules require that it be removed from the highway without delay. If the vehicle can be safely driven, the removal and trip to the repair shop is not subject to the equipment regulations.