§ Mr. Paul MarsdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many roadside checks were carried out on(a) heavy goods vehicles and (b) public service vehicles in each of the last 10 years. [163835]
§ Mr. JamiesonThe number of roadside checks carried out by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (formerly the Vehicle Inspectorate) on heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles in each of the last 10 years is shown in the following table. 1409W
Roadworthiness roadside checks Vehicle category HGV motor vehicles HGV trailers PSV 2002–03 64,373 21225 20,287 2001–02 56,984 17,699 18,470 2000–01 68,270 22,159 21,160 1999–2000 74,459 24,046 23,516 1998–99 69,718 23,683 20,635 1997–98 85,023 28,096 28,045 1996–97 93,914 32,769 28,809 1995–96 85,523 28,335 23,987 1994–951 13,4046 32,053 32,338 1993–941 14,5807 32,448 32,645 1Figures for 1993–94 and 1994–95 include fleet roadworthiness checks. It is not possible to separate out figures for roadside checks only. Note:
The figures shown exclude emissions-only checks on HGV motor vehicles but include checks on foreign vehicles.
Traffic enforcement examinations Vehicle category HGV PSV 2002–03 106,587 13,900 2001–02 108,917 11,330 2000–01 132,784 15,994 1999–2000 158,067 18,513 1998–99 161,268 18,183 1997–98 192,573 30,436 1996–97 214,924 30435 1995–96 248,674 38,306 1994–95 266,185 38,654 1993–94 307,835 36,981 Note:
The figures include checks on foreign vehiclesOver recent years, VOSA has sought to improve its targeting regime in order to ensure that those who tend to comply with legal requirements are less likely to be stopped and checked, and those who are pre-disposed to ignore legal requirements are more likely to be detected. Greater effort now goes into researching, targeting and stopping/investigating vehicles selectively and this is reflected in the above trend (figures).