Police in Germany stopped a lorry on the BAB 10 motorway near Berlin for inspection last week.
The lorry had a broken brake disc, and officers were concerned about the risk of the lorry getting stuck or pieces breaking off during transit. This prompted an immediate ban on further travel for the driver.
During the inspection, officers also examined the lorry’s tachograph records. Although the tachograph was functioning correctly, it showed that the lorry had exceeded the legal speed limit several times in the previous hours – the driver pushed the gas pedal to reach 110/h more than once.
The police report sarcastically notes that if the driver had spent more time on maintenance and less time manipulating the speed limiter, it would have been safer for all involved.
The inspection also found that the lorry’s exhaust system had been modified, which had taken up more time than would have been necessary for brake maintenance. Consequently, the haulage company was fined €15,000 for the offences.