More trucks fail the test
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• Prohibition rates at liGV spot-checks in the North-West have been rising for the past five years, making this the UK black spot, according to the Vehicle Inspectorate's annual effectiveness report.
Against a general narrowing of regional differences and an average prohibition rate of 20%. the North-West suffered a four-point rise to 22%, overtaking Scotland as the worst region for vehicle maintenance.
The VI reports nationwide increases in the HGV annual test failure rate, maintenance assessments and spot-checks. But it claims the figures reflect improvements in testing procedures, rather than declining industry standards.
HGV prohibitions following spot and fleet-checks were up 16% to 28,282 in 1996/97. Nearly half (12,993) were issued with immediate effect. HGV trailers had a high prohibition rate, at more than 19%, despite their relatively simple construction, says the report.
One-year-old vehicles had a 14% test failure rate, compared with 45% for 11-year-old trucks. Fleet size is also a factor, with 29% failing in fleets over 100 vehicles while 46% failed in fleets of fewer than five trucks.