By Ken Stanley

The Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) has urged vehicle owners to go for periodic automated vehicle inspection in order to detect faults that might lead to embarrassing vehicle breakdowns or accidents.

The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer in Enugu State, Engr. Val Chime, told newsmen in Enugu on Friday that vehicle owners should take advantage of the recently installed automated vehicle inspection facility in the state.

Chime noted that as humans need periodic medical checkup for sound health, so vehicles need periodic automated inspection to perform optimally for many years.

He said that it was mandatory that commercial vehicles go for periodic automated vehicle inspection after every six months; while for the private vehicles it is once a year.

According to him, the new automated vehicle inspection facility installed by Gov. Peter Mbah located at Emene within Enugu metropolis provides excellent and time saving automated vehicle inspection in few minutes.

“Once you have got your vehicle’s roadworthiness certificate, you are at liberty to use the facility free-of-charge; and ask the professionals in the facility questions about your vehicle and other driving/road user issues.

“The facility is strategically installed by His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, to close the knowledge gap of regular or local mechanics in detecting hidden vehicle faults.

“The facility also ensures that hidden faults, which human eyes and physical touch by the regular mechanics cannot detect, are made known computer-wise,” the VIO boss said.

Chime noted that there had been abundant testimonies of vehicle owners using the facility and discovering month-long faults that their regular mechanics cannot detect.

“When this fault is spotted by the help of computers; the facility professionals will also recommend the best way to fix or repair the dysfunctional part of the vehicle,” he said.

He said that at times, when a vehicle contravenes roadworthy regulations and the same vehicle is taken to the facility, “the owner comes around to appreciate the VIO for such a facility”.

Chime said, “After taking their vehicles through the automated vehicle inspection, they are appreciative of the holistic computerised diagnoses on the vehicles and expert advice offered to keep their vehicle in perfect condition.”

He said that a part of a vehicle being roadworthy and having Certificate of Roadworthiness; each driver must possess a valid Driving License.

The VIO boss said, “Other documents needed included: Vehicle License Renewal, Proof of Ownership Certificate and Certificate of Insurance (compulsory third party).

“Others items to be in the vehicle are: C-Caution (warning triangle), fire extinguisher, jack, spare tyre, first aid kit, wheel spanner, water, hydraulic, transmission fluid, torch light, spare fan belt, tow rope and wedges among others.”