The death of a young mum killed by a road sweeper with faulty brakes may have been prevented had its operating company addressed “shambolic” systemic failings, a damning report has revealed.

Cleckheaton-based Angus Heron showed a “complete lack of understanding” about how to maintain its fleet, including the sweeper which killed 30-year-old Yasmin Nazir, a report by the Traffic Commissioner said.

Robert Bolam, who was driving a sweeper with defective Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) and was using his mobile phone, was jailed for seven years for causing Mrs Nazir’s death by dangerous driving on the Drighlington bypass on October 6, 2006.

Her husband, Mohammed, and young daughter, Isha, were also seriously injured in the crash.

The Deputy Traffic Commissioner for the north east, Liz Perrett, has now suspended the company’s operating licence following a public inquiry.

She said it was “deplorable” that systems to check the roadworthiness of the firm’s fleet were not in place and that there was a “complete lack” of auditing checks on the safety of vehicles.

She also criticised managing director Angus Heron, who admitted never reading an official guide to maintaining vehicles’ roadworthiness.

Instead, he gave responsibility for monitoring vehicle safety to then transport manager and company director Andrew Pinder.

In her report of the inquiry, Miss Perrett wrote: “I am satisfied that in 2006 the running of the operation was shambolic. I find it deplorable that the operator (Angus Heron) devolved complete responsibility to his fellow director and transport manager for running the whole fleet, without board supervision.”

Quoting from the official 2005 Guide to Roadworthiness, Miss Perrett said: “There must be a firm management commitment to reviewing and improving maintenance systems where defects are found on vehicles,” adding: “Had such a commitment been in place, it would have been clear that vehicles were not being inspected regularly or the work supervised adequately…there was an attitude within the company of ‘anything goes’.

“This is evidenced by there being no clear zero tolerance policy on the use of mobile phones, no training or guidance on the importance of driving in a manner commensurate with road conditions, no driver-defect reporting system in place and no supervision of hours worked.

“Had all these matters received the appropriate high priority within the company, I find it more than possible that the accident on October 6, 2006, may not have occurred.”

Even after the 30-year-old mother died, there were no immediate steps to carry out a “root and branch” review of systems in place to protect safety, the report said.

It took until November 13 this year – a month before the public inquiry – for Mr Heron to realise he had “a very real risk” of losing his operator’s licence before the company held extra training for staff, among other measures.

The company has now agreed to carry out six-week safety inspections, random audits of its findings and brake tests every three months.

Suspending Angus Heron Ltd’s licence for six weeks, Miss Perrett concluded: “The operators repute hangs by the finest of threads but it should not be put out of business.

“Despite grave reservations, I am satisfied, on balance that the operator should be permitted to prove it can abide by its undertakings.”