Updated Guide To Maintaining Roadworthiness

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) recently published an updated version of their Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness for Commercial Goods and Public Service Vehicles.

It is important for vehicle operators to ensure that their vehicles are maintained in a roadworthy condition. Using an unroadworthy vehicle on a road can result in fines or prosecution for both the operator and the driver.

The DVSA guide provides a benchmark for existing roadworthiness maintenance systems and advice on how to set up and manage new systems.

Changes in the latest edition include

• Additional advice on outsourcing maintenance work
• Additional guidance on using a decelerometer for brake performance assessments
• Additional guidance on electronic braking performance monitoring system (EBPMS)

From April 2025, the DVSA will expect that, where EBPMS is not used, at least four laden brake tests will be carried out, spread evenly across each year. An additional section (5.3a) has been added giving guidance on these requirements and the circumstances where a laden brake test will not be required.

As well as for public service vehicles (including prison transfer vehicles), examples of vehicles that may not require a laden brake test include those operating at more than 50% of permitted axle when unladed, e.g., mobile libraries, fixed plants, etc., specifically designed furniture removal vehicles, etc. For these vehicles there will still be a need to carry out a brake performance assessment, which could involve using a roller brake tester or decelerometer with temperature readings.

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