DVSA clamps down on defective fuel systems

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has said it will be taking a more robust approach to vehicles with defective fuel systems, following a Highways Agency report on the effect of fuel spills on the road network.

“It’s not acceptable to contaminate the road surface or to drive a vehicle in such poor condition that a fuel spill is likely,” said the agency.

“The Department for Transport (DfT) asked us to review the sanctions we issue at the roadside for vehicles with defective fuel tanks and systems… The main difference is that we’ll now only issue immediate prohibitions for defective fuel systems and leaks.

“We have communicated these to the trade associations and updated the changes into the Categorisation of Defects and Enforcement Sanctions Policy.”

An immediate prohibition will now therefore be issued for a “missing or ineffective fuel cap or sealing arrangement”; a “fuel leak caused by a defect, contaminating the road surface”; or an “insecure fuel tank where detachment is imminent”.

Last year, the Highways Agency reported 255 fuel spills, including on dual carriageways and motorways, which it said led to lane closures and significant delays.

Said DVSA: “The risks to road safety are obvious, but what you may not know is that it takes on average five hours to clear a fuel spill. You can imagine the disruption this causes to traffic.”

In roadside checks in 2013-14, DVSA said, its examiners detected 2,390 fuel systems defects, while 1,500 prohibitions were issued to vehicles with defective fuel systems.