Africa-Press – Angola. From light cars to heavy vehicles, it is common today to see cars passing through the streets of the country, which at first glance call anyone’s attention. Whether for show or out of necessity, there are many motorists who change the characteristics of their cars, often in such a way that the risk to life becomes very evident for the driver.
The alteration of accessories in motor vehicles, as defended by most motorists, leave it with a desirable appearance. However, in terms of safety, many of these changes endanger the life of the driver and, consequently, the pedestrian.
For those who intend to “dispatch” (sell) the vehicle, such changes are essential, especially when the changes are in the suspension (which make the vehicle higher in relation to others of the same model), or in the tires and special rims. reported, there is no shortage, because a car with many accessories always has customers.
Others, like José Falcão, do it out of necessity, due to work, because he had to drive for hours on National Roads, so he had to adapt his car for long journeys. But, as he said, he never overlooked the issue of security. “There’s no way someone who does a long haul can be careless.”
For many sellers, or owners of modified cars, the change is worth it, even with some consequences. Stories that ended in tragedy, they tell, are countless. “We know who has had their car completely charred, for having put extra lights inside the vehicle. There was a short circuit and the car caught fire”, said the seller who requested anonymity, adding that, despite the various risks, many are the customers who they ask for cars with specific modifications.
negative statistics
Road safety is considered the second cause of death in Angola. One of the reasons is related to changes in the characteristics of motor vehicles, some typified by the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety (DTSER) as poor technical condition of the vehicle.
According to the report by the Directorate of Studies and Planning of the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety (DTSER), in the first half of this year, corresponding to the months of February, March and April, there were 3,547 road accidents, which resulted in 667 deaths and 4,305 wounded.
Of this number, 119 pedestrians were run over and 201 collisions, crashes, skidding and overturning of vehicles occurred as a result of the poor technical condition of the vehicles. The report also points to a total of 81,189,139 kwanzas, in terms of damage caused by these road accidents.
A vehicle tailored to the owner’s needs
José Falcão is one of the citizens who bought a car, a Nissan Patrol model, in 2008, and made some modifications, in order to be able to practice the profession with dignity. “I’m always travelling. I maintain equipment at hospitals and travel to almost every province in the country”, he said, adding that at the time, he bought the medium to make travel easier. “Normally, I spend nights on public roads, so I had to adapt the car according to the needs”.
After buying the car, he said, he immediately took it to Namibia, where he changed the complete suspension of the vehicle, the size of the tires, the bumpers and the headlights. “I reinforced the car with a more rigid suspension and gas. I changed the size of the tires, the car became taller and wider. At the front, I removed the bumper and put a metallic one. I placed a base on the roof of the car, where I carry a tent, drums of fuel and water. I installed long-range headlights in the shape of a ruler for greater visibility at night”, he explained.
When narrating some moments already experienced, he recalls that he has already received complaints from other motorists due to the risk of dazzling. “I know the traffic rules, so I try not to focus too much, using all the resources to not dazzle other drivers, even knowing that lights help to avoid certain potholes on the roads”, he revealed. Another change, he said, was having to “smoke ” the windows of the car, as it is a vehicle for technical use. “People are always peeking and if they find something of value, they tend to break the windows and steal it. Since I applied a darker film to the windows, I have greater protection in relation to the objects inside the vehicle, many of them work ”, he advanced.
However, the source guarantees that he has never had any problems with the authorities, although he has not yet inspected the vehicle right after the changes were made. “As soon as I bought it, an inspection was carried out, but after changing it, I no longer contacted the road and traffic services, although I know that periodic inspections are necessary for safety”, he concluded.
Most accidents are caused by changes in characteristics
The Director of the Department of Vehicles at DTSER stated that a large number of road accidents are caused by changes in the characteristics of motor vehicles. “This type of alteration is typified as a bad technical condition of the vehicle in the face of an accident ”, he clarified.
Regarding the characteristics that should or should not be changed, the chief superintendent explained that there are several ways to change the vehicle, including changing the tire and adding certain accessories, changes that can cause irreparable damage.
For example, he continued, there are individuals who decide to reduce or increase the original diameter of the vehicle’s tire, which automatically changes the speed without the panel registering the actual mileage.
“The panel can indicate that the car is traveling 100 kilometers an hour, however, by reducing the diameter of the tires, it can be 120 or more”, he explained, adding that this act turns out to be a risk for the driver.
Many accidents, he defended, happen due to excessive speed, sometimes due to the fact that the driver is innocent of the situation, because the odometer does not measure the actual mileage of the vehicle. “If the tire is larger than the manufacturer determines, you can ride at 100, according to the panel, in terms of rotation, when in fact it is at 80 km”.
Another important aspect, he said, are the rims that do not meet international standards and are often purchased in informal markets. “The eagerness to have beautiful rims leads us to make serious mistakes, because it puts our lives at risk”, she said.
the airbags
For Manuel António, there are also those changes in the interior of the vehicle, such as the seats and steering wheels, which often means that, in the event of accidents, the airbags do not go off. “The airbag, also known as an air bag or air bag, is an important safety component for vehicles and one of the main protection systems for drivers and passengers.”
The disorderly use, said the specialist, of spare devices for collisions on the front, known as “Santo António”, also prevents the airbag from deploying. “The safest vehicles are those that, in a collision, are more likely to damage , but protecting the interior of the vehicle”.
Lights
Other components, he added, such as superimposed lights, often create glare for passers-by or other motorists and ends up being, equally, one of the causes of many traffic accidents, mainly on national roads. “These are changes that should not be made, because they jeopardize road safety and are even subject to fines”.
bodywork
Vehicles with an open body, he described, with emphasis on the Mitsubishi Canter, which often have closed bodies and changing the top part of them, jeopardizes the aerodynamics and also the functionality of the vehicle. “In a tight curve, since the bodywork does not meet the aerodynamic requirement to cut the wind, it can create destabilization of the vehicle and cause rollover”, he specified.
spring elevation
Another very worrying situation, he continued, is the raising of vehicle springs, so that they become higher than standard. “Sometimes, even in a simple curve, which could be passable, taking into account the original characteristics of the vehicle, there may be overturning, due to the elevation of the springs”, he described, adding that these alterations jeopardize, above all, the balance of the vehicle and often damage the suspension system.
The Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, warned, advises all motorists not to opt for changes in a disorderly way.
Common and legal transformations
The head of the Department of Vehicles at DTSER informed that any alteration of a vehicle cannot be made by mere chance or pleasure, on the contrary, it must be within the parameters of the norm, because it interferes with road safety.
For Manuel António, there are changes that are specific to vehicle identification, such as color or stop, things that do not directly interfere with what safety is. However, any alteration to be made to the vehicle is subject to inspection by the Directorate of Traffic and Road Safety, based on the Highway Code, in article 114, line C, which highlights the fact that any and all vehicles that wish to make any changes need to request the road and traffic services”, he explained.
Currently, based on the advances in mechanics, the engine of a vehicle is seen today as a spare part, because depending on the time of use, it is easily damaged. “This change is allowed”, he guaranteed, adding that the engines do not need authorization to change. But, he highlighted, it is necessary, after the change, to make known the direction of traffic.
To accept the change of engine, he said, because of situations of car theft, the purchase of the accessory must be obtained in documentary terms. “The applicant must bring the invoices and documentation from the store. If you remove it from another vehicle, it must be accompanied by the proper documentation”, he clarified, in addition to underlining that if the number appears in the database, the engine was part of a stolen vehicle is impounded.
brand symbols
The director of the Department of Vehicles explained that it is common to see a Toyota vehicle and the owner put the Ford symbol on it. “It is a change of characteristic, in what is the identification of the vehicle”, he informed.
Changes that do not jeopardize safety, he added, can be made, provided that, subsequently, the owner of the vehicle seeks the services of road and traffic and such change appears in a document.
“There is a database in the DTSER system, interconnected with the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC), for those situations of vehicles that have been involved in criminal cases. If you have committed a crime and change the color to escape, you are easily identified by the registration number , seized and sent to a police station”, he clarified.
The vehicle registration number, he underlined, cannot be changed, as it is the vehicle’s identification record. “Except for the diplomatic corps, which are inherent to people, but must have a white background and letters and numbers written in red.”
immediate fines
As soon as the alteration is made to the vehicle, the owner must immediately request the transit services, otherwise, if he is questioned by a traffic regulating agent, a fine will be imposed.
New centers for periodic vehicle inspections
According to the head of the vehicle department, new centers are already under construction in the country to carry out periodic inspections of vehicles. “The idea is to relaunch the periodic inspection service in Angola. Some will be mandatory and will not be carried out only by the National Police, but by other private entities, previously selected through a public tender”, he said.
Currently, he clarified, vehicles are inspected only by the Traffic and Road Safety Directorate, but this new method, the institution will lead vehicle owners to have the culture of regular maintenance of their cars. “The inspection is done to measure the effectiveness of the vehicle, especially in aspects such as the brakes. Depending on the purpose of each vehicle, some have to do the inspection at least once a year or more”.
Currently, he continued, in the case of vehicles that are 100 percent safe, traffic agents act and advise owners to take them to the center for inspection, in order to determine the state of the vehicle.
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