UK agency to check tire-age on commercial fleets

Bristol, UK – The UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is targeting operators of vehicles using tires more than 10 years old, the agency announced 23 Nov.

Effective immediately, the investigation process will seek “an adequate explanation” for using old tires and check the quality of the fleet operator’s management system.

If not satisfied, the DVSA said it may refer such operators to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner for potential regulatory action.

The DVSA has included a tire age category in its updated guide to maintaining roadworthiness, to mark road safety week 19-25 Nov in the UK.

The updated guide builds on previous guidance issued by the Department for Transport (DfT) in 2013, which strongly discouraged the use of tires older than 10 years on coaches.

The DVSA has powers to carry out spot roadside checks and issue prohibitions if necessary.

Between April 2016 and March 2017, DVSA said it carried out over 85,000 mechanical safety checks on heavy goods vehicles, light good vehicles and buses and issued more than 25,000 prohibitions.