DVSA’s new van compliance campaign

8th January 2015

The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency is to launch a major new campaign this month, in a bid to improve van safety.

It will focus on operator and driver education, and on encouraging a self-help attitude.  Commenting in Fleet News, the DVSA’s Gordon MacDonald said fleet operators and drivers could do much to improve compliance by simply copying the HGV sector and doing 10-minute walkaround check on their vehicles before setting off on a journey, with a particular focus on tyre, brake and bodywork condition.

“That would solve a multitude of problems,” he said, adding that vehicle mechanical condition and overloading were key DVSA concerns. 

• 2,543 prohibition notices were issued following weight checks on 3,031 UK-registered light goods vehicles (83.9%, down from 89.9% in ‘12/13 and 87.3% in ‘11/12) by DVSA staff at the roadside or operators’ premises.
• 15,122 prohibition notices were issued following mechanical checks on 25,139 vehicles (60.2%, down from 68.9% in ‘12/13 and 66.2% in ‘11/12.

“We want to encourage operators not to think only about the volume, but the weight and distribution of the goods being carried,” he told Fleet News.  “It is easy to sort out.”

The MOT failure rate of around 50% - compared with just 20% for HGVs – was another big concern, particularly with regard to brakes, suspension and lighting/signalling.

The three-month pilot campaign, part of which will see MOT stations distributing key fobs and stickers, will be launched in four cities and will be supported by a website giving operators and drivers advice on ensuring their vans are roadworthy.  In the spring, the DVSA will assess the impact of the campaign and then roll it out further or reassess how it drives forward improvements in van roadworthiness.