refused to drive van, where do I stand

[newtimes]

got in this morning was told replacement van had an electric problem and the abs warning light stays on, just come out of garage. I went and did van check and light came on, I refused to drive it because of warning light, asked for them to put in writing that it was electric fault. Was accused of refusing to do duty, I said I am only refusing to drive van with abs warning light on.given another van, when came back the driver of that van verbally abused me and said I am just causing trouble and just upsets the whole office. Manager told me to drive it to garage, I refused, told to speak to head garage person who told me just not to drive it then. where do I stand,

[doorstepped]

you are right in not taking out a vehicle in non roadworthy condition. you should not endanger your life or anyone else's by taking it out.

if you were to have an accident in that van and it is proved that it was showing a warning light etc at the time, YOU would be to blame not the person who told you to take it out.

your DIM is a plum of the highest order, I checked my van a couple of weeks ago and decided that one tyre was rather low so told the DIM, he changed the wheel for me when I said I would refuse to take the van out.

[newtimes]

Its the fact I am getting crap from other workers, they drive the vans with warning lights on, the manager is very close to a small group and its a small office with "no problems" till I came along.

[doorstepped]

personally I would front up the other workers but then thats me.

just walk away, and laugh when one of the tosspots that are having a go at you crashes in said van.

all managers will have their little favorites and I am also from a small office ( 30 workers ) so I know where you are coming from but I could'nt care less about what others think of me, just rise above it or start banging in some B&H's

[newtimes]

I did phone the B&H help line from the office, everyone listen in and will put one in. I do stand up for my self, it would of been easy just to drive the van, But I refuse to pushed around. I accept every action has a consequence, Glad you understand, my office seems very similar to yours.

[noggin1969]

From the AA web page : ABS warning light

When the ignition is switched on, the light illuminates briefly to confirm that the system is operational.

If it illuminates when driving, it indicates a malfunction. Have this checked as soon as possible.

Normal braking (without ABS) will be generally be maintained and many cars will be safe to drive on, but some will not - check the handbook for advice.

But as the driver you still have the right to refuse to use a vehicle you feel may be unsafe to drive !

[newtimes]

From the AA web page : ABS warning light

When the ignition is switched on, the light illuminates briefly to confirm that the system is operational.

If it illuminates when driving, it indicates a malfunction. Have this checked as soon as possible.

Normal braking (without ABS) will be generally be maintained and many cars will be safe to drive on, but some will not - check the handbook for advice.

This is why I am asking for help I just did a search and found this
"ABS warning lamps illuminating during journeys

Construction and use regulations permit a vehicle to continue with a journey or be taken to a place of repair if the ABS warning lamp illuminates during the journey, at the start of which the system was functioning correctly.

FTA negotiated strongly with the Department for Transport (DfT) and VOSA who agreed to downgrade enforcement sanction policy where there is evidence available to a VOSA examiner of a yellow ABS warning lamp coming on during a journey, in which case the action is to issue an inspection notice, rather than a prohibition."
http://www.fta.co.uk/policy_and_complia ... ights.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
If this is right should the garage of released this vehicle to go into service.

[fishtank]

If this is right should the garage of released this vehicle to go into service.

No,of course they shouldn't have.
It's completely irrelevant that the faulty ABS light was simply an electrical fault,the fact that it wasn't working properly means that obviously had something actually gone wrong with the ABS you would have had no ABS warning light to tell you.
Brakes will normally continue to work without ABS but your stopping distance and the response of the vehicle under heavy braking is altered significantly.
That could be the difference between life and death.

[newtimes]

If this is right should the garage of released this vehicle to go into service.

No,of course they shouldn't have.
It's completely irrelevant that the faulty ABS light was simply an electrical fault,the fact that it wasn't working properly means that obviously had something actually gone wrong with the ABS you would have had no ABS warning light to tell you.
Brakes will normally continue to work without ABS but your stopping distance and the response of the vehicle under heavy braking is altered significantly.
That could be the difference between life and death.

Thank you, I know I did right but when everyone about you is questioning your ability, you do start to doubt yourself. My self confidence is being chipped away.

[CLINTEASTWOOD1]

you are right in not taking out a vehicle in non roadworthy condition. you should not endanger your life or anyone else's by taking it out.

if you were to have an accident in that van and it is proved that it was showing a warning light etc at the time, YOU would be to blame not the person who told you to take it out.

your DIM is a plum of the highest order, I checked my van a couple of weeks ago and decided that one tyre was rather low so told the DIM, he changed the wheel for me when I said I would refuse to take the van out.

i did you manage to get your dim to change the tyre we have to do our own in our office.

[Judgee]

You were perfectly entitled to refuse to drive any unroadworthy vehicle. Your manager would be the first person to point and blame you if there was an accident. As for your workmates well they are obviously a bunch of twats. Next time drive the faulty van and run a few of them over then you can say I told you it was unsafe!

[doorstepped]

you are right in not taking out a vehicle in non roadworthy condition. you should not endanger your life or anyone else's by taking it out.

if you were to have an accident in that van and it is proved that it was showing a warning light etc at the time, YOU would be to blame not the person who told you to take it out.

your DIM is a plum of the highest order, I checked my van a couple of weeks ago and decided that one tyre was rather low so told the DIM, he changed the wheel for me when I said I would refuse to take the van out.

i did you manage to get your dim to change the tyre we have to do our own in our office.

yep, our DIM changes all the wheels etc as we are not trained to do so, and he does not want to lose a van for two days to send it away to get done.
we also have a supply of windscreen wipers for the same reasons

[Billy Ray]

You have a duty of care for your own H&S and done the right thing.

[chooch]

you are right in not taking out a vehicle in non roadworthy condition. you should not endanger your life or anyone else's by taking it out.

if you were to have an accident in that van and it is proved that it was showing a warning light etc at the time, YOU would be to blame not the person who told you to take it out.

your DIM is a plum of the highest order, I checked my van a couple of weeks ago and decided that one tyre was rather low so told the DIM, he changed the wheel for me when I said I would refuse to take the van out.

i did you manage to get your dim to change the tyre we have to do our own in our office.

Is anyone apart from a Royal Mail (whatever) mechanic or a RM authorised Breakdown Service mechanic even allowed to change a tyre on a RM vehicle?(or hire-vehicle being used on RM business)?

[PhilthyPhil]

Is anyone apart from a Royal Mail (whatever) mechanic or a RM authorised Breakdown Service mechanic even allowed to change a tyre on a RM vehicle?(or hire-vehicle being used on RM business)?

Yes it is possible for OPGs or managers to be trained by the VSW staff to correctly change wheels. Your office must also have a suitable vehicle jack and torque wrench.