AFRICAN 
STANDARD  DARS  
1357  
First Edition 2020  
 
 Reference No. ARS 1357:2020 (E) 
ICS 03.120.20; 43.180  
 
 
© ARSO 2020  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Vehicle test station evaluation — Code of practice  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 DARS 1357:2020  
ii © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved   
Table of contents  
 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .... 1 
4 Organization  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..................  3 
5 Quality management system  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  4 
5.1 Quality documentation and documentation control  ................................ ................................ .............  4 
5.2 Review of the quality management system  ................................ ................................ .........................  4 
5.3 Work instructions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................  5 
5.4 Corrective action  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 5 
5.5 Personnel  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .............  6 
5.6 Facilities and control of testing and measuring equipment  ................................ ................................ .. 6 
5.7 Subcontractors  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ..... 7 
5.8 Technical records  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ . 7 
5.9 Statistical returns to the relevant national authority  ................................ ................................ ............  8 
5.10 Technical queries to the appointed inspectorate authority  ................................ ................................ ... 9 
5.11 Customer complaints  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  9 
5.12 Throughput times  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...............................  10 
Annex A (normative)  Inspectorate authority — Technical enquiry  ................................ ................................ ..... 11 
Annex B (normative) Vehicle Test Station — Customer complaint  ................................ ................................ ........  12 
Annex C (normative)  Vehicle Test Station — Throughput times/vehicle  ................................ ................................ .. 13 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  14 
 
  DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  iii Foreword  
 
The African Organization for Standardization (ARS O) is an African intergovernmental organization 
established by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and the Organization of 
African Unity (AU)  in 1977 . One of the fundamental mandates of ARSO is to develop and harmo nize 
African Standards (ARS) for the purpose of enhancing Africa’s internal trading capacity, increase 
Africa’s product and service competitiveness globally and uplift the welfare of African 
communities. The work of preparing African  Standards is normally carried out through ARSO  technical 
committees. Each Member State  interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been 
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, Regional 
Economic Communities (RECs), governmental and non -governmental  organizations , in liaison with 
ARSO , also take part in the work.  
 
ARSO  Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.  
 
The main task of technical co mmittees is to prepare ARSO  Standards. Draft ARSO  Standards 
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an 
ARSO  Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.  
 
Attenti on is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of 
patent rights. ARSO  shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.  
 
This African Standard was prepared by the ARSO Technical (Harmonization ) Committee Number 08-
4/59on Automotive Technology and  Engineering (ARSO/THC 0 8-4/ARSO/TC 59 ). 
 
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation  2020 — All rights reserved*  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P. O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel. +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
  
                                                 
*© 2020 ARSO — All rights of exploitation reserved worldwide for African Member States’ NSBs.  DARS 1357:2020  
iv © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved   
Copyright notice  
 
This ARSO document is copyright -protected by ARSO. While the reproduction of this document 
by participants in the ARSO standards development process is permitted without prior 
permission from ARSO, neither this document nor any extract fr om it may be reproduced, stored 
or transmitted in any form for any other purpose without prior written permission from ARSO.  
 
Requests for permission to reproduce this document for the purpose of selling it should be 
addressed as shown below or to ARSO’s m ember body in the country of the requester:  
 
 
© African Organisation for Standardisation 20 20 — All rights reserved  
 
ARSO Central Secretariat  
International House 3rd Floor  
P.O. Box 57363 — 00200 City Square  
NAIROBI, KENYA  
 
Tel: +254 -20-2224561, +254 -20-3311641, +254 -20-3311608  
 
 
E-mail: arso@arso -oran.org  
Web: www.arso -oran.org  
 
Reproduction for sales purposes may be subject to royalty payments  or a licensing agreement. 
Violators may be p rosecuted.  
 
 
 
  DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  v Introduction  
 
<Text indicating rationale for the development/harmonization of the standard>  
 
 DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  1  
Vehicle test station evaluation — Code of practice  
 
 
1 Scope  
 
1.1 This standard covers general provisions for the evaluation of the technical competence of a  
vehicle test station. It also serves as a basis for determining the grading and registration of  the vehicle 
test station  on the grounds of its adherence to the provisions of this standard, the suitability of the  
equipment and the competence of registered examiners of vehicles empl oyed.  
 
1.2 The principal grades intended for vehicle test station s based on the available test lane 
classes in accordance with ARS 1355 -5 are: 
 
a) grade A – examination and testing of any class of vehicle; and  
 
b) grade B – examination and testing of motor  vehicles other than a goods vehicle or a bus of 
grossvehicle mass exceeding 3 500 kg ; and  
 
c) grade C – examination and testing of  motorcycles and mopeds . 
 
1.3 In addition, where the population of a rural area does not justify the introduction of 
apermanent vehicle test station, a mobile vehicle test unit that complies with the provisions of 
thisstandard and that is confined to a specific area should be allowed.  
 
2 Normative references  
 
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the a pplication of this document. For dated 
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced 
document (including any amendments) applies.  
 
ARS 1355 -1: Vehicle Standards — Specification for Vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 1: 
Roadworthiness of vehicles already in use  
 
ARS 1355 -4: Vehicle Standards — Specification for  Vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 4 : Requirements 
for vehicle examiners  
 
ARS 1355 -5: Vehicle Standards — Specification for  Vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 5 : Requirements 
for testing equipment  
 
ISO 5130, Acoustics — Measurements of sound pressure level emitted by stationary road vehicles  
 
UNECE R13, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles of categories M, N and O  with 
regard to braking  
 
UNECE R13 -H, Uniform provisions concerning the approval of passenger cars with regard to braking  
 
UNECE R 26,Uniform provisions concerning the approval of vehicles with regard to their external 
projections  
 
UNECE R 58,Uniform provisions concerning the approval of rear underrun protective devices 
(RUPDs) and rear underrun protection (RUP)  
 
3 Terms and definitions  
 
For the purpose of this standard the following definition sand abbreviations apply . 
 AFRICAN STANDARD  DARS 1357:2020  
2 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  3.1 Definitions  
 
3.1.1  
acceptable  
acceptable to the inspectorate of vehicle test stations  
 
3.1.2 
audit  
systematic investigation by the appointed inspectorate, with proof of this appointment, to determine a 
vehicle test station's adherence to established procedures and to this standard as mandated by the 
relevant domestic  legislation  
 
3.1.3 
calibration  
compa rison between an instrument and a measuring standard of higher accuracy to detect,correlate, 
adjust and document the accuracy of the item being calibrated  
 
3.1.4 
corrective action  
any change introduced into the equipment, methods, procedures or sequence of  the system inorder to 
prevent the recurrence of a specific deficiency in the product, service or system  
 
3.1.5 
customer  
applicant  
person or persons who require(s) or obtain(s) services rendered by a vehicle test station  
 
3.1.6 
floor working space  
floor le vel in an inspection pit on the lowest level that allows the vehicle examiner free andunimpeded 
access to the vehicle and the underside of the vehicle  
 
3.1.7 
inspectorate of vehicle test stations  
institution  appointed as such by the relevant minister  in accordance with domestic legislation  
NOTE  Inspectorate of vehicle test stations is hereafter referred to as inspectorate . 
 
3.1.8 
procedure  
documented description of an activity, including the sequence of operations, methods to beemployed 
and equipment to be used  
 
3.1.9 
quality system  
documented method of operation, based on this standard, which identifies the activities 
andestablishes controls of an organization  
 
3.1.10 
roadworthiness  
descriptive of a vehicle that complies with the relevant domestic legislation and with DARS 1355 -1 
 
3.11 
vehicle test station  
VTS 
institution with facilities and equipment compliant with ARS 1355 -5, whose function is to examine, 
measure or otherwise determine the roadworthiness of avehicle by vehicle examiners compliant with 
ARS 1355 -4 with respect to the requirements of the relevant domestic legislation and with ARS 1355 -1 
 DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  3 3.2 Abbreviations  
 
ANPR  automatic number plate recognition.  
 
COF  Certificate of Fitness issued after a periodic roadworthiness test which is to be displayed 
on the vehicle to which it relates  
 
GPS  Global Positioning System  
 
NTIS  National Transport Information System  
 
UN ECE  United Nations Economic Commission for Europe  
 
VIN vehicle identification number issued, affixed to and recorded on a vehicle in accordance 
with ISO 3779 , ISO 3780 and ISO 4030 or FMVSS 115 , also included in the definition of  
chassis number  in domestic legislation  
 
4 Organization  
 
4.1 Management representa tive 
 
The VTS shall appoint a management representative who shall have the necessary authority for,and 
the responsibility of, ensuring that the levels of technical and managerial competence requiredfor the 
successful evaluation of the VTS in terms of this standard are maintained.  
 
The management representative shall : 
 
a) be a registered examiner of vehicles, or  
 
b) be in possession of a related technical qualification.  
 
Where a management representative was appointed without compliance with (a) or (b) above, sucha 
qualification shall be obtained within a period of two (2) years.  
 
NOTE  For the interim appointed management representatives may be trained by an approved service provider approved by 
the inspectorate.  
 
4.2 Field of application  and methods  
 
The VTS shall ensure that : 
 
a) its organizational structure is clearly documented in the form of an organogram,  
 
b) the field of application of the VTS, as recommended by the appointed inspectorate authority and 
determined by the relevant national authority, is clearly stated by its grade, and  
 
c) all methods and procedures used in each activity are clearly documented and, in particular, that 
the procedures for continuous co -ordination with the appointed inspectorate authority are clearly 
stated.  
 
4.3 Policy documentation  
 
4.3.1  The VTS shall develop and shall effectively maintain clear and concise documentation ofits 
policy regarding : 
 
a) inspection management, as required by the provisions of this standard,  
 
b) the legality of procedures and operations,  
 
c) general good housekeeping, and  
 
d) good public relations.  
 DARS 1357:2020  
4 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  4.3.2  Rules and measures for ensuring the protection of proprietary rights and 
confidentialinformation shall be instituted and shall be effectively maintained.  
 
4.3.3  Procedures  shall be laid down for the periodic review of organizational matters, 
thedocumentation (including amendments thereto), and the written notification and distribution 
thereofto all parties concerned.  
 
4.3.4  Rules and measures shall be instituted and shall b e effectively maintained to limit the 
vehicleinspection and testing activities of the VTS to those covered by the relevant provisions of DARS 
1355 -1:2020 . 
 
4.3.5  Provision shall be made in relevant documentation for the authorized access of theappointed 
inspector to all applicable documents and procedures.  
 
4.3.6  The policy statement of the VTS shall be placed on permanent public display.  
 
5 Quality management system  
 
5.1 Quality documentation and documentation control  
 
5.1.1  The VTS shall operate in accordance with a formalized quality system that is appropriateto its 
authorization and to the range and volume of vehicle inspections performed. All proceduresrelated to 
the quality system shall be so documented as to cover all the provi sions of this standardand any such 
further procedures deemed necessary for the assurance of good housekeeping.  
 
5.1.2  Documentation shall be so presented that each person involved with inspection matters 
isaware of both the extent and the limitations of hi s/her area of responsibility.  
 
5.1.3  The preparation, approval and implementation of any changes, amendments or 
modificationsto any work instruction or test method shall be clearly defined and any amendments to 
existingdocuments shall indicate the date and  the author or source of the amendment.  
 
5.1.4  The VTS shall establish and maintain a system to control all documentation that relates tothe 
provisions of this standard. The system shall ensure that : 
 
a) the latest issues of the following mandatory documen ts are available at all points of issue or 
use: 
 
1) for grade A: UNECE R58  and UNECE R26 ; and  
 
2) for grades A and B: this standard, UNECE R13 , UNECE R13 -H,and the relevant national 
legislation,  
 
b) all amendments to documentation are in writing and are processed in a manner that will 
ensureprompt response,  
 
c) records of amendments are updated as the amendments are made,  
 
d) an updated document (incorporating any amendments) is issued promptly, and  
 
e) provision is made for the prompt removal of obsolete  documents from all points of issue or use.  
 
5.2 Review of the quality management system  
 
5.2.1 The continued effectiveness of the quality system established in accordance with the provisions of 
this standard shall be ensured by an annual systematic review by the VTS. Records of such reviews and of 
any corrective action taken shall be maintained and, when relevant, made available to the inspector.  
 
5.2.2 Notwithstanding and in addition to any actions performed to establish whether particular aspects of 
the inspection system are in compliance with documented procedures, the VTS shall, at such intervals as DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  5 are prescribed by the management representative (see  4.1), be subjected to a comprehensive self -audit for 
verification of compliance of all relevant matters within the provisions of this standard, and of the 
documented system.  
 
5.3 Work instructions  
 
The VTS shall develop and maintain clear and complete documented instructions that prescribe the 
manner of executing the following vehicle inspection work:  
 
a) the distribution of documentation,  
 
b) the admission of vehicles to the VTS, 
 
c) the approach to, and treatment of, customers,  
 
d) vehicle identification examination,  
 
e) the completion of inspection records,  
 
f) the payment of test fees,  
 
g) the issue of roadworthiness certificates and inspection records,  
 
h) the control of records,  
 
i) the procedures in the case of retests,  
 
j) in-house maintenance and calibration,  
 
k) vehicle testing,  
 
l) the processing of vehicle test information onto the NTIS, and  
 
m) actions in the event of NTIS failure.  
 
5.4 Corrective action  
 
5.4.1 The VTS shall develop and maintain documented procedures for  
 
a) determining the implications of any deviations from authorized procedures that occur and what 
corrective action such deviations require,  
 
b) the continued monitoring of procedures and records, in or der to detect, eliminate and prevent any 
suspicious inspection results, and  
 
c) ensuring that corrective actions are effective.  
 
5.4.2 The VTS shall have procedures to be followed in the case of  
 
a) customer complaints,  
 
b) document problems,  
 
c) personnel  problems,  
 
d) managerial problems, and  
 
e) administration problems (internal and external).  
 DARS 1357:2020  
6 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  5.5 Personnel  
 
5.5.1  All personnel shall be competent to perform the functions allocated to them.  
 
5.5.2  The proportion of senior (supervisory) to junior (non-supervisory) staff should be such as 
toensure effective supervision of all the work. Where relevant, one member of staff, competent in 
theroutine work involved, shall be nominated to supervise the running of the facility in the absence 
ofthe managemen t representative.  
 
5.5.3  The VTS shall identify the training requirements for specific technical or quality 
assurancefunctions.  
 
5.5.4  Records of the qualifications and experience of each staff member and of his/her position 
inthe organizational structure shall be available and shall be kept up to date.  
 
5.5.5  The persons responsible for the functions given in 5.8 shall receive written authorization bythe 
management representative to perform these functions.  
 
5.5.6  Vehicles shall only be examined by a graded vehicle examiner who is registered with 
thecentral register for vehicle examiners. He/she shall, at any time be able to demonstrate a 
soundunderstanding of those sections of the following documents that are appropriate to the grade of 
theVTS: 
 
a) the relevant national legislation,  
 
b) ARS 1355 -1, 
 
c) ARS 1355 -4, and 
 
d) the mandatory documents in 5.1.4(a).  
 
5.5.7  The VTS shall establish a system for disciplinary procedures.  
 
5.6 Facilities and control of testing and measuring equipment  
 
5.6.1  Facilities and equipment listed in ARS1355 -5, applicable to the grading of the VTS, shall be 
maintained in a serviceable condition and be readily available for use by the VTS. A record of all such 
items and a means of identification shall be maintained.  
 
5.6.2 The equipment shall only be operated by authorized staff, or under the direct supervision of 
authorized staff.  
 
5.6.3  Information concerning items of equipment that require special instructions regarding their 
operation and maintenance shall be kept i n files (or similar systems) that are properly maintained and 
readily accessible for use by the relevant personnel.  
 
5.6.4  Equipment shall be properly maintained and protected against corrosion and other causes of 
deterioration. An effective maintenance pr ocedure shall be available.  
 
5.6.5  An item of equipment that has been damaged or is likely to give suspect results, or that has 
been shown by calibration or in other ways to be defective shall be clearly labelled as such and 
withdrawn from use until it has  been repaired and calibrated or otherwise proved to be in good 
working order.  
 
5.6.6  For each item of equipment, files shall be maintained that include  
 
a) the manufacturer's specifications,  
 
b) operating instructions,  
 DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  7 c) maintenance instructions,  
 
d) calibration recommendations,  
 
e) the date of purchase,  
 
f) maintenance work carried out, and  
 
g) the results of any calibration.  
 
5.6.7  In the absence of a manufacturer's recommendations, equipment shall be calibrated 
duringthe periods outlined in Table 1.  
 
Table 1 — Calibration periods  
 
1  2  
Equipment  Calibration period  
Roller brake tester  1 year  
Headlamp beam checking device  1 year  
Wheel alignment gauge  1 year  
Kingpin and fifth wheel gauges  1 year  
Tyre tread depth gauge  1 year  
Measuring tapes  1 year  
Height gauge  1 year  
Straight edge  1 year  
Turning radius measuring device  1 year  
Vernier caliper  1 year  
 
 
5.6.8  Testing and measuring equipment, where appropriate, shall be calibrated before 
beingcommissioned and thereafter shall be calibrated in accordance with an established programme 
andschedule at appropriate intervals, dependent on the nature of the equipment and what 
isrecommended by the equipment manufacturer.  
 
5.6.9  The programme for calibration shall be so designed t hat testing equipment is calibrated by 
aperson or organization equipped and authorized to do the work. Valid certificates of calibration forall 
testing equipment shall be available on site.  
 
5.6.10  The testing equipment shall be calibrated to an accuracy c ommensurate with the 
accuracyrequired in the use of the equipment.  
 
5.6.11  In-house reference standards of measurement held by a VTS shall not be used for 
anypurpose other than calibration.  
 
5.6.12  The vehicle testing shall be stopped if any item of the re levant equipment or if the facility isnot 
available and if no alternative arrangement can be made. However, if an alternativearrangement is 
made to test the vehicle, it shall be recorded on the required technical records.  
 
5.7 Subcontractors  
 
The inspection or testing of a vehicle for roadworthiness shall not be subcontracted to outside parties, 
unless prior written permission has been obtained from the relevant national authority.  
 
5.8 Technical records  
 
Technical records shall be kept and retaine d for at least five years in respect of all inspection,testing 
and results of calibrations, in particular the following:  
 DARS 1357:2020  
8 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  a) A co-ordinated system shall be used throughout all the separate parts of the VTS. 
 
b) Records in the form of loose -leaf sheets shal l at all times be properly filed.  
 
c) All observations and calculations shall be recorded at the time they are made.  
 
d) The records for each inspection or test shall contain sufficient information to permit the tracing 
ofpossible sources of error and to permit, where necessary, satisfactory repetition of the 
inspectionor test under the original conditions.  
 
e) All records shall be protected from loss, damage or misuse (where computer data facilities 
areused for recording purposes, precautionary measures s hall have been instituted to 
preventaccidental erasure of data from the system).  
 
f) Any departures from any test procedure, inspection procedure, specification, work instruction 
orother technical procedure as originally documented shall be recorded and ju stified, together 
withauthorization, where appropriate.  
 
g) The VTS shall keep a record of all technical work contracted to outside parties.  
 
h) A register shall be kept that contains the designation of staff members responsible for  
 
1) maintaining the veh icle test register,  
 
2) handling equipment maintenance work and calibration,  
 
3) submitting statistical returns to the relevant national authority (see foreword),  
 
4) submitting technical queries to the appointed inspectorate authority,  
 
5) maintaining a file on, and analysing, customer complaints,  
 
6) establishing and analysing the average throughput times,  
 
7) maintaining copies of the documents listed in 5.1.4(a),  
 
8) preparing and maintaining procedures for the admission of vehicles to the VTS, 
 
9) approaching and treating customers,  
 
10) identifying vehicles,  
 
11) producing documentation  
 
12) handling payment of test fees,  
 
13) issuing of roadworthiness certificates and inspection records, and  
 
14) procedures in the case of retests and other related  matters.  
 
5.9 Statistical returns to the relevant national authority  
 
5.9.1  Responsibility  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(3) shall submit accurate monthly statistical returnsto 
the relevant national authority (see foreword). The staff member shall keep a file of the returnsand of 
the comments received from the relevant national authority.  
 
NOTE  The returns will be used by the relevant national authority and by the inspectorate authority to assess the following:  
 
a) a comparison of the n umber and types of vehicles being tested in different parts of the country,  DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  9  
b) the vehicle defects that predominate nationally and by area,  
 
c) the relative stringencies of examinations at particular VTS’ , compared with the national norms, and  
 
d) changes  over the years in the general state of vehicle roadworthiness.  
 
5.9.2  Analysis of returns  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(3) shall regularly analyse the returns and 
thecomments received from the relevant national authority (see foreword) and shall communicate 
thisanalysis to the appropriate personnel of the VTS at intervals not exceeding one month.  
 
5.10 Technical queries to the appointed inspectorate authority  
 
5.10.1  Responsibility  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(4) shall submit written technical queries to 
theinspectorate authority on a form as shown in annex A and shall keep a file of these 
technicalqueries together with the responses received from the appointed ins pectorate authority.  
 
5.10.2 Analysis of technical queries  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(4) shall regularly analyse the technical queries 
andthe responses received from the inspectorate authority and shall communicate this analysis to 
theappropriate personnel of the VTS at intervals not exceeding one month.  
 
NOTE  The written technical queries should be used by the inspectorate authority to  
 
a) assess when amendments, elaboration or additions are necessary to this standard, or regulations of the 
relevant national legislation,  
 
b) ensure uniformity of approach,  
 
c) assess which VTS’s  require aid so that liaison visits to selected areas can be planned, and  
 
d) detect emerging problems at an early stage so as to be able to advise all VTS’s  promptly.  
 
5.11 Customer complaints  
 
5.11.1  Responsibility  
 
The VTS shall display its customer complaints procedure to the public and all customercomplaints 
shall be recorded.  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(5) shall, in the event of a cu stomer complaint,provide 
the customer with a complaint form as shown in annex B and shall keep a file of suchcompleted 
complaint forms.  
 
5.11.2  Analysis of complaints  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(5) shall regularly analyse the complaints and 
anycomments and shall communicate this analysis to the appropriate personnel of the VTS atintervals 
not exceeding one month in order to achieve the objective of m inimizing future complaints.  
 
NOTE  The complaints records will be used by the inspectorate authority to  
 
a) assess whether there are common problems (on a national basis) that require solutions, and,  
 
b) in cases where problems are confined to a particular area, ascertain whether these are created primarily by 
the VTS’ s or by the operators concerned.  
 DARS 1357:2020  
10 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  5.12 Throughput times  
 
5.12.1  Responsibility  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(6) shall compile the statistics for the VTS that show 
the average duration of the examination (i.e. the time that passes from when theexamination is 
started to the time when the inspection record is issued) a nd establish suitablenorms for the VTS, 
based on an analysis of these data.  
 
NOTE 1  The information for what is accepted as being the busiest and least busy day of the week should be compiled at 
monthly intervals. Seasonal peaks and lows and days when the staff complement is either abnormally high or abnormally low 
should be avoided for the purposes of this return.  
 
NOTE 2  A form as shown in annex C should be filled in and submitted to the relevant national authority and to the appointed 
inspectorate author ity at six -monthly intervals.  
 
5.12.2  Analysis of throughput times  
 
The staff member responsible in terms of 5.8(h)(6) shall regularly analyse the throughput times 
andthe comments from the inspectorate authority and shall communicate this analysis to 
theappropriate personnel of the VTS at intervals not exceeding six months  in order to achieve 
theobjectives of minimizing waiting time and ensuring a reasonable duration for the examination of 
avehicle.  
 
NOTE  The throughput time data will be used by the inspectorate authority to  
 
a) assess the national norms, and  
 
b) advise eac h VTS where it stands in relation to national norms, so that in some cases steps can be taken to 
introduce improvements.  
   DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  11  
Annex A 
(normative)  
 
Inspectorate authority — Technical enquiry  
 
 
 
 
  
DARS 1357:2020  
12 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  Annex B 
(normative)  
 
Vehicle Test Station — Customer complaint  
 
 
 
  
DARS 1357:2020  
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  13 Annex C 
(normative)  
 
Vehicle Test Station  — Throughput times/vehicle  
 
 
Vehicle Test Station  
  
 
Address  
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
Station grade  
  
 
Province  
  
 
Responsible officer  
  
 
Date 
  
 
Vehicle type  
 Average waiting time before 
examination  
 Average examination time (until issue 
of inspection record)  
 No. of vehicles  
 
Cars 
  
  
  
 
LCV 
  
  
  
 
HCV  
  
  
  
 
Trailers  
  
  
  
 
Motorcycles  
  
  
  
 
1) From the time the client's application form is received, to the time the inspection starts.  
 
 
Number of COFs  issued : ………………………………………………………………..  
 
  DARS 1357:2020  
14 © ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved  Bibliography  
 
 
ARS 1355 -2:Vehicle standards — Specification for vehicle roadworthiness — Part 2: Roadworthiness 
of vehicles prior to entry into service, and thereafter  
 
ARS 1355 -3:Vehicle Standards — Specification for vehicle Roadworthiness — Part 3: 
Roadworthiness — Supporting information  
 
ARS 13 79:Definitions and classifications of power -driven vehicles and trailers  
 
FMVSS 115: Federal VIN Requirements (Title 49, Chapter V, Part 565)  
 
ISO 3779 :Road vehicles — Vehicle identification number (VIN) — Content and structure  
 
ISO 3780:  Road vehicles – World manufacturer identifier (WMI) code  
 
ISO 4030:  Road vehicles – Vehicle identification number (VIN) – Location and attachment  
 
ISO/IEC18013 -1:Information technology — Personal identification — ISO-compliant driving licence — Part 1: 
Physical characteristics and basic data set  
 
 
 DARS 1357:20 20 
© ARSO 2020 — All rights reserved