Periodic vehicle checks are part and parcel of life as an HGV driver – something that HGVC driver trainees learn early on in their training. However, according to an investigation and subsequent report by leisure company Trackdays.co.uk, commercial drivers in the UK are risking going to prison due to poor maintenance checks. 

Referencing recent DVSA data, the report states that more than 25% of all HGVs and LGVs in the United Kingdom failed vehicle enforcement checks between April and June of 2022. As such, being caught in this way puts commercial drivers and their employees at significant risk of criminal charges being brought that could result in jail time.

39% of HGVs Issued With Immediate Prohibitions

The report illustrated that during this period, 39% of HGV drivers were issued with immediate prohibitions when stopped, with 25% of commercial car drivers suffering the same fate. These penalties are typically issued when serious safety-related faults are found, such as defective brakes, steering problems and tyre defects.

The DVSAs findings on LGV checks were largely similar, with 50% of checks turning up a mechanical issue. The most prevalent prohibition defect for LGVs was worn tyres (16%), with three points being given out per bald tyre – potentially leading to the drivers losing both their licences and their livelihoods. 

Economic Strains Behind the Problem 

What is the reason behind the problem? According to the report, current financial strains are to blame, with the cost of living crisis forcing companies to take the seriously risky step of avoiding basic vehicle maintenance checks. Winter weather is on the way, meaning that by lowering safety standards in this way, lives are being put at risk. 

Neil Greig, IAM RoadSmart’s director of policy & research, had this to say:

“Inflation and rising costs are hitting everyone at the moment. Putting off simple safety inspections to try and avoid costly expenses can be a short-sighted approach taken by some.

One in three deaths on our roads involve someone driving during the course of work, so there are many lives at stake when safety checks are cut – is that a price worth paying?”

Essentially, safety checks are not something that should ever be avoided, as faulty brakes, tyres or steering can result in accidents. A constant eye needs to be on these elements for a reason, which is why they form an integral part of a commercial driver’s routine. 

Teaching Students the Safe Way to Operate

At HGVC, we go to great lengths to teach HGV driver trainees the right and safe way to operate, with daily checks being a central part of their learning. We do this because it’s such an important element and while we understand the financial pressures that many UK haulage companies are under, safety checks should never be skipped, or lives can be lost. 

We’re known as one of the industry’s largest HGV driver training companies, and we operate a nationwide network of training centres via which we can meet any size of HGV licence acquisition demand. To find out more about us and how we do things, take a look around our website or to get in touch, call 0330 818 8888 or click on ‘contact us’ today.