VI enforcement: On the road
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ROADWORTHINESS
Last year the Vehicle Inspectorate shifted its enforcement focus more away from simply hitting the annual targets based on the numbers it agrees with the DoT towards what it calls "targeted enforcement activities". It explains: The points scores and [prohibition] rates achieved remain significantly higher than the fleet compliance survey baseline, indicating we are successfully building our expertise in targeting." Greater co-operation with police forces, particularly in terms of using police cars as part of mobile roadworthiness checks, also "produced a highly effective prohibition rate".
The Yrs certainly catching more than enough poorly maintained trucks and trailers out on the road as the number of reports for prosecution for roadworthiness defects Increased significantly in 2000/01to 1,322 (up from 1,042 in 1999/00). This, says the VI, 'reflects our aim to deter operators from knowingly operating vehicles with safety-critical defects".
• INDUSTRY BLACK MARK!