Research and analysis

Fleet compliance check summary report, 2015 to 2016

Published 31 October 2016

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

1. About this summary report

As a commercial driver, you might be asked to stop by the police or a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) officer. They can stop lorries, buses and coaches.

The police and DVSA have the power to carry out spot checks on your vehicle and issue prohibitions if necessary.

Find out more about roadside vehicle checks for commercial drivers.

1.1 What this report shows

This report summarises the roadworthiness and traffic compliance of:

  • all heavy goods vehicles and trailers
  • Great Britain registered public service vehicles

The checks detailed in this report were carried out on randomly selected vehicles at randomly selected roadside sites throughout Great Britain.

The data used in the report was provided by the Department for Transport’s In House Analytical Consultancy.

2. Prohibition or serious offence

2.1 Summary for 2015 to 2016

Vehicle type Vehicles issued with a prohibition/serious offence Vehicles not issued with a prohibition/serious offence Total vehicles checked
Great Britain vehicle 230 2,216 2,446
Great Britain trailer 125 1,124 1,249
Great Britain traffic 219 2,236 2,455
Non-Great Britain vehicle 339 2,133 2,472
Non-Great Britain trailer 501 1,915 2,416
Non-Great Britain traffic 356 2,171 2,527
PSV traffic - school bus 53 365 418
PSV traffic - service bus 14 423 437
PSV traffic - coach 36 435 471

Prohibition and serious offence rate

Vehicle type % of vehicles stopped that led to a prohibition or serious offence
Great Britain vehicle 9.4%
Great Britain trailer 10%
Great Britain traffic 8.9%
Non-Great Britain vehicle 13.7%
Non-Great Britain trailer 20.7%
Non-Great Britain traffic 14.1%
PSV traffic - school bus 12.7%
PSV traffic - service bus 3.2%
PSV traffic - coach 7.6%

2.2 Historical information

The tables linked to below show the historic figure on the number of stops and prohibitions issued by DVSA:

Where ‘No data’ shows, it’s because either:

  • the checks were done in alternate years
  • no records are available

3. Vehicle and trailer defect rates

3.1 Total number of vehicle and trailer checks

Vehicle type Total number checked
Great Britain vehicle 2,446
Great Britain trailer 1,249
Non-Great Britain vehicle 2,472
Non-Great Britain trailer 2,416

3.2 Vehicle and trailer defect volumes

Vehicle type Immediate Delayed Inspection notice No defect
Great Britain vehicle 90 140 385 1,831  
Great Britain trailer 51 74 115 1,009  
Non-Great Britain vehicle 100 239 282 1,851  
Non-Great Britain trailer 94 407 141 1,774  

3.3 Vehicle and trailer defect rates

Vehicle type % Immediate % Delayed % Inspection notice % No defect
Great Britain vehicle 3.7% 5.7% 15.7% 74.9%  
Great Britain trailer 4.1% 5.9% 9.2% 80.8%  
Non-Great Britain vehicle 4.0% 9.7% 11.4% 74.9%  
Non-Great Britain trailer 3.9% 16.8% 5.8% 73.4%  

4. Traffic offence rate

4.1 Total number of traffic stops

Type Total number stopped
Great Britain traffic 2,455
Non-Great Britain traffic 2,527
PSV compliance (traffic) 1,402

4.2 Traffic offence volumes

Type Serious Warning No traffic offence
Great Britain traffic 219 77 2,159  
Non-Great Britain traffic 356 61 2,110  
PSV Compliance (school bus) 53 10 355  
PSV Compliance (service bus) 14 1 422  
PSV Compliance (coach) 36 34 401  
PSV Compliance (other/unknown) 7 1 68  

4.3 Traffic offence rate

Type % Serious % Warning % No traffic offence
Great Britain traffic 8.9% 3.1% 87.9%  
Non-Great Britain traffic 14.1% 2.4% 83.5%  
PSV Compliance (school bus) 12.7% 2.4% 84.9%  
PSV Compliance (service bus) 3.2% 0.2% 96.6%  
PSV Compliance (coach) 7.6% 7.2% 85.1%  
PSV Compliance (other/unknown) 9.2% 1.3% 89.5%