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Serious vehicle maintenance issues identified three months after MOT
Commercial operators are being urged by DVSA to ensure that they carry out regular maintenance all year round to avoid dangerous incidents as data reveals vehicles are issued 10 times more prohibitions three months after their annual test (MOT).
A review of a large sample of commercial vehicle encounters and analysis of the time passed since their last MOT showed a significant rise in the roadworthiness prohibition rate.
DVSA examiners encountered a concerning 25 percentage point increase in prohibitions compared to the first month after an MOT.
These findings indicate an over reliance on the annual test to pick up on maintenance issues and failures with operator maintenance inspections.
Vehicle operators agree to planned and preventative maintenance as part of their operator’s licence commitment. Maintenance guidance is set out within DVSA’s Guide to maintaining roadworthiness available on GOV.UK.
Roadworthiness prohibitions found by DVSA in the period after an MOT included illegal tyres which were worn and cut, defective suspension, steering, and brakes. These are all issues that can affect the driver’s control of the vehicle.
Other issues include faulty indicators and brake lights that notify other road users of a vehicle’s manoeuvres.
More than 60% of HGV prohibition defects could and should have been identified and reported by the driver had they carried out a thorough walkaround check or if checks done by them had been acted upon by the operator.
Operators have a responsibility to prioritise vehicle maintenance and to check that third-party providers are carrying out the necessary work on their behalf accurately in order to ensure that vehicles are kept in a safe and roadworthy condition.
These findings are consistent across HGVs, trailers, and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs) highlighting industry-wide maintenance issues.
DVSA’s Head of Vehicle Policy & Engineering Neil Barlow said: “This data indicates a concerning lack of care for road safety by some operators.
“Heavy vehicles travelling at speed pose an immense risk to road users if not properly maintained.
“I am calling on all operators to make sure that regular maintenance is being carried out on their vehicles all year round to avoid any potential disruption or dangerous incidents.”
Logistics UK is working with DVSA to improve awareness of these issues and to help understand the problem.
Kevin Green, Director, Logistics UK said: “The safety of all road users must remain a top priority for industry, and ensuring vehicles are regularly maintained forms a key part of this. The data provided by DVSA highlights areas where action is needed. Logistics UK is pleased to work with DVSA and the wider road sector to raise awareness of this issue and continue improving road safety.”
*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns/road-safety
Published On: 22/09/2022 16:00:47
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