This week I would like to focus the safety section of The Weekly News on a specific area. Transportation for the disabled.
When someone schedules for transportation to a doctors appointment, they assume that the service is legit. Most are, but re you getting into one that is or isn’t?
Each state has heir own laws, some of which make it easy to spot if a medical transport vehicle is legal or not.
Example: In New York state, the inspection stickers are always square and placed on the lower drivers side of the windshield. But not for medical transport vehicles, a properly insured and registered medical transport vehicle in new York will have it’s inspection on the lower passengers side of the wind shield and it will be a diamond shape, not square.
This is a very easy thing to spot as you are approaching the vehicle.
There are other signs to look for as well.
A medical transport vehicle can have problems like any other vehicle, however, the NYDOT does not permit medical transport vehicles to run with unsafe problems and drivers are required to inspect the vehicle prior to driving it (a requirement of DOT and CDL license).
Therefore, if you notice a cracked windshield or broken mirror on the same vehicle on more then one occasion, the vehicle may be legal, but did not pass the drivers inspection prior to leaving the lot.
There are companies that are known for playing games in this area. One of which is Fresh Transport in Long Island, NY. Out of a fleet of bout 10 vans, they are lucky if they have on that would pass a DOT inspection. Also they are just as lucky if they have one driver who holds a valid CDL license to drive the vans.
Is there a company like this near you?
Are they transporting you or someone you know?
Find out the local laws in your area. Be sure your getting into a vehicle that is safe with a valid driver.
The life you save may be your own!
By A. Wallace
Visit The Weekly News at http://TheWeeklyNews.info or join our mailing list to get weekly updates at http://yourdesign2.com/mailinglist.htm
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