The importation of derelict vehicles has been a bone of contention far many consumers and an issue former Trade and Industry Minister Leslie Miller had attempted to solve, but without success.
The matter, however, is being pushed to the forefront by family members of accident victim Kenneth Bethel, who now believe that the car he was driving was sold to him with major safety hazards.
Kenneth Bethel of Faith Avenue was involved in a crash on Mackey Street on Sunday in his 1997 Acura 3.5 RL. It has left him in a coma.
Initial investigations by Traffic Police revealed that Mr Bethel’s vehicle lacked a driver’s side airbag. Instead the airbag had been replaced by newspapers.
Members of his family, who were looking over the car following the police investigation, say the car was also lacking driver and passenger side seatbelts as well as a bumper guard, which they explained is a metal guard that is located behind the plastic and foam bumper.
Superintendent in Charge of Traffic Berkie Wright, explained that the car was indeed without an airbag, but said that other factors may have led to the life threatening injuries Mr Bethel received.
“I believe there is some evidence that people put other stuff in there and put a little bit of glue ļ¾ around the edge of the steering wheel where the bag is supposed to be.”
According to Mr Wright, the purchasing and use of derelict vehicles is a problem he has complained about on numerous occasions.
“I’ve talked about people selling used vehicles where some of the frames are only welded together with clothes hangers,” he said.
When you put together a chasis there is special welding that has to be done by electrical machines and these people use clothes hangers for the welding rod.
“I remember that one government official had promised to look into that matter and stop the importation of that type of vehicle.”
Mr Wright said that a number of these vehicles, which were wrecked in the US or Japan, were wrecked with such force that it caused the airbag to deploy.
“I’m sure that there are other vehicles and it’s only a matter of time until a similar thing happens,” he said.
Mr Miller, who is sitting in for Minister of Trade and Industry, Alfred Gray, said, “This is the sort of thing I was trying to prevent from happening – I’m very sad to hear that,” when he heard of Mr Bethel’s condition.
“The fellow who sold the car probably didn’t have two dimes to rub together, so he could care less what happened.”
Mr Miller told The Tribune yesterday that he has been trying to prevent the importation of derelict vehicles for the past two years.
“This is a prime example of some of the things we’ve been talking about – newspaper in the airbags – how low can you get?” he asked.
“I guess you need to get a couple of Bahamians killed in those things before people wake up and see how serious the uation is.”
According to Mr Miller, shipping companies required vehicles to be in working order while on the dock in Miami in order for them to be allowed on the ship.
“A lot of the shipping companies stopped bringing in the derelict cars.
“If a car is not able to drive on Florida roads then why should they be on our roads? This is why I thought it was important to ban the importation of wrecks, because those cars are not street worthy in the United States or anywhere else, is the last dumping ground for them. “It’s a very dangerous situation happening in this country and I think it’s a situation that needs to be dealt with sooner than later.
Speaking with The Tribune yesterday Accounts Executive and Motor Engineer at [allegedly corrupt and irresponsible] Security and General Insurance Company Quintin Ferguson, said that most cars that come in to be insured do not have airbags and that at least 50 per cent that have airbags do not have ones that are in working order.
He also explained that some cars don’t come with airbags, but the ones that do are no required to have them in working condition in order to be licensed.
“I’m not sure if Road Traffic Inspectors know what to look for – they don’t inspect airbags,” he said. “Another problem with airbags is that there aren’t a lot of people here who can fix them properly.”
Mr Ferguson expressed his concern for the driving public saying that once the insurance company says yes, Road Traffic will say yes. “It’s a disservice to the driver.”
He said that Road Traffic needs to look into updating its laws and modernizing its training. However, he said, the problem also starts with the client not knowing what they’ve purchased from the auction.
“I’ve seen two different cars welded together. I had to look underneath to truly tell if it had been welded together – had that car been t-boned it could have split in two.
“Some insurance companies do favours, but what they really do is a disservice that makes customers more susceptible to injuries or even death.
“Road safety should have a lot to do with an insurance company’s level of inspection (and integrity), but I hope the government puts together a more detailed inspection plan.”
Mr Ferguson said that some insurance companies are now saying “no” to cars that look like they could be a hazard to the driver.
According to Mr Wright women are being robbed more often than men when it comes to buying these shoddy vehicles.
“People need to get some kind of history on these vehicles, but mechanics and people who are importing them and selling them are not gonna go through that,” he said.
Wanting individuals to err on the side of caution he added that “people who drive with kids in their laps also need to know that if the airbag explodes the child will die, because of the force with which an airbag deploys.”
By CHESTER ROBARDS, The Tribune
