(Minister of State for
Transport): I wish to inform the House that the
Government is today introducing changes to formal guidance issued
to the operators of heavy vehicles.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is publishing a
revised Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, which is the formal
guidance for commercial operators and drivers on how to make sure
their vehicles are safe to drive.
It includes guidance that tyres over 10 years old should not be
used on heavy vehicles except in specific, limited circumstances.
These changes reinforce guidance previously issued to bus and
coach operators and extend it to include goods vehicles.
The Government takes road safety seriously and in 2013 the
Department for Transport issued guidance about the use of older
tyres on buses and coaches. This precautionary guidance
encouraged operators to remove any tyre aged 10 years or more
from the front, steering axle, of their vehicles. Since that
time, the DVSA has been monitoring the age of tyres fitted during
annual roadworthiness inspections. Compliance has been good.
I reported to the House on 1 March 2018 that the Department for
Transport was undertaking research to understand better the
effect of age on a tyre’s integrity. I am pleased to report that
this research is proceeding well and that I have made additional
funds available to extend the number of tyre samples that are
being analysed. The report will be available in spring 2019.
The DVSA’s priority is to protect everyone from unsafe drivers
and vehicles. It will start conducting follow up investigations
whenever it finds a vehicle operator with a tyre more than 10
years old on its bus, coach, lorry or trailer. If the operator
cannot provide an adequate explanation for using an old tyre, or
their tyre management systems are not good enough, the DVSA will
consider referring them to the Office of the Traffic
Commissioner.
The revision to the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness also
includes information to help drivers of high vehicles avoid
bridge strikes. Bridge strikes cause significant disruption for
the rail network and are often caused by drivers failing to
appreciate the height of their vehicle.
The revision provides further guidance for drivers to remind them
to record the height of their vehicle during their daily walk
around checks. By improving guidance in this area, the DVSA aims
to see a reduction in disruption to travellers.
The Government and the DVSA will continue their commitment to
keep Britain’s roads amongst the safest in the world by enforcing
legislation, as well as working with industry to provide guidance
on vehicle and driver safety.
