HC Deb 11 December 1997 vol 302 cc633-4W
Mr. Drew

To ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions how many incidents of vehicles failing the vehicle inspectors' roadside test there have been in the last six months. [19690]

Ms Glenda Jackson

[holding answer 10 December 1997]: I have asked the Chief Executive of the Vehicle Inspectorate, Mr. Ron Oliver, to write to my hon. Friend.

Letter from Ron Oliver to Mr. David Drew, dated 11 December 1997: The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question about the number of incidents of vehicles failing roadside tests in the last six months. The Inspectorate's Vehicle Examiners carry out roadworthiness spot checks at the roadside, at ports, and at other locations where vehicles are parked or at operators' premises. Vehicles are examined to determine their compliance with safety and environmental standards through checks on their mechanical condition and their exhaust emissions. Vehicles failing to meet the required standard are issued with a prohibition notice which, depending on the seriousness of the defect, can prevent the vehicle from continuing on its journey until the defect has been rectified. In any event a vehicle issued with a prohibition notice must be inspected by Inspectorate staff for clearance of the prohibition once the fault has been rectified. Details of vehicles failing to meet required roadworthiness and exhaust emission standards during roadside spot and fleet checks during the period 1 April to 30 September 1997 are as follows:

Vehicle Roadworthiness Checks Emission Checks
Examined Prohibited Examined Prohibited
Heavy Goods Vehicles

(including trailers)

 86,915 13,267 6,650 220
Passenger Service

vehicles

 15,566 1,906 4,202 121
Light Goods Vehicles 9,571 2,345 7,340 3,800
Cars 787 374 45,251 807
Taxis and private hire

cars

 1,685 420 1,979 382
Non-testable vehicles1 1,015 407 n/a n/a
Total 115,539 18,719 65,422 5,330
n/a = not available.
1 Includes mobile cranes, diggers and non-HGV trailers.
In addition to the above checks, the Inspectorate's Traffic Examiners also carry out roadside examinations of vehicles to check for potential traffic offences including overloading, unauthorised use of vehicles, driver licensing, and tachograph misuse.