DVSA reports rising HGV roadworthiness

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has published its annual fleet compliance checks report for 2014/15, which it says demonstrates further improvements in the roadworthiness standards of trucks operating on roads in Great Britain.

The agency’s random checks, in which both GB and non-GB-registered HGVs, trailers and PSVs were inspected for compliance, yielded a clean bill of health for more than 90 per cent of GB lorries and trailers, and more than 85 per cent of non-GB trucks – while nearly 80 per cent of foreign-registered trailers were also given the all-clear.

There was, however, an increase in traffic offences by non-GB drivers. The DVSA said this was “likely due to the introduction of the HGV road user levy,” which effectively bills foreign operators for their use of the UK’s roads, and which some users are still failing to pay.

The statistics also showed a minor increase in mechanical prohibitions for buses and coaches, which were up almost one percentage point from the previous year at 8.4 per cent.

Over the twelve-month period, DVSA checked 5,109 lorries for compliance, almost half of which were foreign-registered. Foreign trailers accounted for 64 per cent of trailer checks, meanwhile, which totalled 3,834. Finally, 1,461 PSVs were examined.

Gordon MacDonald, head of enforcement at the agency, said: “DVSA takes the safety all road users extremely seriously. These results are very encouraging and show that the vast majority of drivers and operators are following the rules and are playing their part in making our roads safer.

“Anyone who fails to meet the standards or comply with the rules is putting themselves and other road users at risk and faces prosecution.”