Riverina learner drivers and their families are at risk of delays and increased costs if they go for a provisional licence test in a car with a defective airbag.
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Roads and Maritime Services staff have been banned from sitting in vehicles with specific ‘Alpha’ Takata airbags due to the risk of defective units spewing out metal shrapnel when deployed.
RMS in Wagga has admitted to incorrectly applying the new policy after turning away a P-plate applicant over concerns they had a faulty airbag.
‘Alpha’ airbags were installed in certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus models sold between 2001 and 2004.
Alpha models are considered the most dangerous out of 448,000 Takata airbags in NSW that are subject to a recall.
Wagga driver trainer Glen Gaudron, owner of Able Driving School, said he had been made aware of the policy just this week and said many learner drivers would not know about it.
“I got an email from the Driver Training Association saying the RMS had told them,” he said.
“(On Tuesday) a girl a taught a few years ago called up wanting to borrow a car for her boyfriend.
“They had driven from Griffith to Wagga to do a test and they were told they couldn’t do it because they had a faulty airbag,
“She rang her dealer and they were told the earliest they could fit an airbag was March next year.”
Mr Gaudron said he had heard directly from the RMS about the new policy and even some driver trainers might not know about it.
A Service NSW spokesperson said the agency was working with RMS “to establish a policy for motor vehicles which contain defective Takata Alpha airbags”.
“The safety of Driver Testers, applicants and all road users is a priority for Service NSW and RMS which is why an interim procedure has been implemented,” the spokesperson said.
“The interim procedure outlines driver testing cannot take place in certain types of vehicles where the Takata ‘Alpha’ airbags have not been replaced.
“While these vehicles remain roadworthy, this extra precaution has been taken to further protect staff and customers.”
The spokesperson said Service NSW had contacted a P-plate applicant, whose test in Wagga did not take place because the new procedure was incorrectly applied, to “address the issue”.
Car owners can check if their car contains an Alpha or otherwise recalled airbag using the ACCC website.
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