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New best-practice guide targets vans and LCVs

In the UK, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) has launched an interesting new best-practice guide for van operators and drivers to combat high levels of MOT and roadside check failures.

Figures show that 50 per cent of vans or light goods vehicles fail their MOT test year on year and so ‘it’s clear that things have to change’. Of the nearly 11,000 vans stopped by VOSA each year, 93 per cent are overloaded and 63 per cent have serious mechanical defects.

VOSA guide

VOSA says that the new ‘Your van: best practice guide’ will give much-needed principles to help raise the standards of these vehicles throughout Great Britain.

With input and support from key stakeholders it is a useful reference point for people who use vans not only for business but also for private hire. The guide includes an operator and driver checklist along with a diagram of a van walk around check.

The aim is to encourage a culture of compliance leading to a reduction in MOT failures and an improvement in the prohibition rate.

Head of VOSA Enforcement Policy Gordon MacDonald said, “It’s well known by people in the motor trade that there is a high first time MOT failure rate for this type of vehicle. Many of the owners are running small to medium businesses and it must cause inconvenience, especially loss of income, while their vehicles are off the road.

“We want to work with them to increase their awareness that a regularly serviced and well maintained vehicle will mean their business is more efficient and they won’t risk having to let customers down because they can’t do the job

“This publication is a collaboration with trade representatives involved in the industry; and VOSA working with them to come up with a workable solution.

“It is hoped that this guide will prove to be a valuable tool to help drive up standards of those operating vans for business or private use, making the UK road network a safer environment for all users.”