Page 203 - Bahrain Gov annual reports (V a)_Neat

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The responsibilities of a driver with regard to maintenance arc limited to ensuring that the
vehicle or machine is kept clean, all oil and water levels maintained correctly, tyres inflated to
the correct pressures and the reporting of all defects as soon as they become apparent and before
they develop into a major repair job, particularly in relation to road safety (i.e., steering and the
condition of the brakes). A large percentage of the major repairs carried out in the past would
have been unnecessary if the driver concerned had reported the defect as soon as it became
apparent. Most vehicles and machines only being made available to the Department after
they have become completely unserviceable. Many repair jobs also, have been the direct
result of the driver failing to give that essential daily attention to his machine.
Tyres are a serious problem and large sums of money are spent each year on new covers
and inner tubes. It is estimated that these costs could be reduced by as much as 50 per cent, if
properly applied systematic maintenance were carried out by drivers and operators. The most
common causes of tyre deterioration arc : underinflation, overloading, excessive speed, non­
rotation of tyres with regard to their position on the vehicle at the recommended mileages, and
lack of common care.
From the above it is evident that there is room for much improvement and reform in
connection with the economical and efficient operation of Government Transport and Mechan­
ical Equipment and it is considered that such improvement will not be possible under the
present system and it is recommended that the Department should be made responsible for the
operation of all Government Transport under one central control. Not only would this be the
answer to many of the above problems, but, it would also solve other difficulties, such as
economical allocation of vehicles in relation to the number of jobs to be carried out and the
mis-use of transport for private purposes. It is estimated that by centralizing in this manner,
transport operation costs in all Departments, would be reduced by as much as 30 per cent.

With regard to mechanical equipment, it is felt that the remedy is in the hands of the
operators, and that unless reforms are introduced by Departments themselves, costs will
continue to remain unnecessarily high.

The total number of vehicles on charge at the end of the year was :
(а) Load-carrying vehicles (Trucks) .. 49
(б) Buses, Station Wagons, etc. 44
(c) Pick-ups 24
(</) Saloon Cars 34
(e) Motor Cycles 23
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The total number of Launches, Mechanical Plant, Machinery, etc.,
on charge at end of year 73
Vehicles written off as being beyond economical repair 7
The total number of new vehicles ordered was 20
The total number of new vehicles received was .. 16
The total number of new items of plant ordered was 30
The total number of new items of plant received was 21
The total number of service operations carried out on vehicles during
the year was 4,350
The total number of repair jobs, both major and minor, carried out
on vehicles, machinery, etc., was 3566