DVSA swoop on dozens of vans with mechanical defects

The DVSA said it would continue to pursue LCV drivers who put lives at risk, after a road safety operation in the Midlands found 24 vans with mechanical defects.

The operation at Birmingham’s Wholesale Market earlier this month involved checks by agency officers on vehicles entering the Noble Way market. Of the 24 vans flouting the rules, 14 were prevented from driving until their serious defects were fixed and 10 LCVs were overweight. In addition, one HGV did not have a tachograph fitted.

The DVSA also said it would be taking further action after finding the driver of a five-tonne van did not hold the appropriate driving licence and the vehicle did not have the required O-licence and tachograph fitted.

The enforcement agency said an estimated 300 vans enter the Birmingham market site every morning to buy and sell wholesale goods.

Laura Great-Rex, DVSA head of enforcement delivery, said: “DVSA’s priority is protecting everyone from unsafe drivers and vehicles. Many of the vehicles we found to have problems during this Birmingham operation had major mechanical defects or were dangerously overweight. We will always pursue van and lorry drivers who recklessly put the lives of other road users at risk.”

Last year, road transport lawyer Laura Newton raised concerns about overloaded vans and the lack of training by drivers (CM 11 June 2020).