DVSA revises roadworthiness guide for 2014
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced revisions to its Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness for commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles.
“We are especially grateful for the views and advice of the transport industry representatives we worked closely with during this review,” the agency said. “As a result of their input, the 2014 revision clears up some grey areas and gives better guidance to operators, drivers and maintenance providers.”
Changes have been made to the previous edition of the Guide in a number of key areas. These include the topic of older vehicles and trailers, for which DVSA recommends more frequent maintenance, and “a maximum interval of six weeks between safety inspections for vehicles and trailers aged 12 years and older.”
The agency also recommends that an International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) week planning system is used, to allow flexibility in planning safety inspections.
“With this system, you should complete the safety inspection within the relevant ISO week it falls,” DVSA said. But it reminded operators that: “However you decide your safety inspection intervals – mileage, time-based or a mix of both – you must not exceed them.” DVSA has also listed the items required for safety inspection facilities.
“We acknowledge that there is no one-size-fits-all approach – our list is based on best practice. One of the first things a traffic commissioner will look at if you fail to maintain your vehicles in a safe and roadworthy condition is whether you are meeting the best practice guidelines we’ve laid out.
“Because the emission test is initially a visual inspection, we have removed the need for access to engine exhaust emission test equipment from our list. But we do also state that if your vehicle exhaust is visible, you will need this equipment to make sure your vehicle’s emissions fall within the legal limits.”
A new section on brake testing has also been included. Said DVSA: “As described in the VOSA Effectiveness Report 2012 to 2013, almost 64,000 trucks, buses and trailer units failed their initial brake efficiency inspection, while at the roadside we issued over 8,000 prohibitions for brake defects.
“So, we are now looking for regular, meaningful, laden brake testing over and above the inspection at the annual MOT test… [and specifically] a minimum of three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test.”
Another new section, highlighted by traffic commissioners Sarah Bell and Kevin Rooney in their foreword to the document, offers advice for operators involved in pulling third-party trailers.
“If you are doing this type of work, it’s vital to have proper procedures so that trailers are roadworthy when they are running under your licence,” they said.
In his own foreword, DVSA chief executive Alastair Peoples said the guide was a ‘must read’.
“Regardless of the sector you operate in – whether you transport goods or people – the safety of your vehicles is vitally important. Keeping your vehicles in a roadworthy condition is good for business, good for the environment and keeps road users safe.”
The full DVSA guide can be read here.
