New figures released by the Office of the Traffic Commissioner (“OTC”) show that almost a third of all DVSA roadside encounters with HGV’s and trailers last year were issued with a prohibition for a mechanical defect.
Prohibition figures released by the OTC show that 31% of the 51,079 truck and trailer checks carried out last year resulted in a PG9 being given to the operator.
Of the 15,815 prohibitions issued between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2015, 7,384 (46.7%) were immediate prohibitions. Immediate Prohibitions are handed out for the most serious mechanical problems and often require the truck to be immobilised. The number of delayed prohibitions issued totalled 8,431 (53.3%).
The highest prohibition rate, as a percentage of vehicles stopped, was achieved by London’s Industrial HGV Task Force, an enforcement initiative carried out by the DVSA, Metropolitan Police and City of London Police. It issued 1,221 mechanical prohibitions on 2,345 checks (52%); 52.5% of trucks and 47.3% of trailers stopped by the Task Force had a defect of some sort.
Checks in the Hertfordshire, Essex and Bedfordshire region achieved the lowest prohibition rate. Just 653 (24.5%) of the 2,658 checks uncovered a mechanical defect. Just under a quarter (23.4%) of the HGVs examined were given a PG9 in this region, whilst 26.9% of trailers were defective.
The DVSA’s Cumbria, Lancashire and Tyne and Tees enforcement office checked the highest number of trucks and trailers for roadworthiness issues – 6,993 checks (4,703 HGVs and 2,290 trailers). It also handed out the greatest number of prohibitions to trucks (920), 690 of which were immediate. Checks in the region achieved the highest number of immediate prohibitions for trailers: 513 were handed out, compared to 407 delayed prohibitions.
Central London was the worst area for immediate prohibitions given to trucks: 806 of the 1,122 prohibitions issued to HGVs last year were immediate, compared to 316 delayed prohibitions.
Road transport solicitor, Jared Dunbar, commented ‘it is interesting to note the differences in regions with regards to compliance. It has been known for some time that the authorities are trying to crack down on compliance in London for some time, particularly with regards to the construction industry as they are notoriously non compliant.
We see a large amount of scaffolders who do not view their journey to site as part of their working day. All to many of them seem to think the Operator Licensing rules only really apply to ‘proper hauliers’. This is why so many of them find themselves called to Public Inquiry for non-compliance.
What all scaffolders should do is treat the road safety compliance in the same responsible manner that they treat their other health and safety compliance. We often find it is simply a lack of knowledge within the company which is the problem rather than any deliberate attempt to circumvent the regime.
My advice to all scaffolders is to seek advice now on compliance and don’t wait from the knock on the door from the DVSA”
For advice on transport law issues, contact Jared Dunbar on 01829 773 105
Content believed to be correct at time of writing 08.09.16