The DVSA has unveiled major updates to its enforcement sanctions policy, which will now see motorists of certain vehicles face tougher roadside rules, with rulebreakers facing higher penalties.
The comprehensive policy overhaul represents a major shift in how DVSA traffic examiners will handle offences during roadside checks across England, Scotland and Wales.
Under the new framework, motorists will face substantially increased fixed penalties and stricter enforcement measures for a wider range of violations.
The policy document detailed enhanced sanctions covering everything from driver hours breaches to vehicle defects on UK roads.
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The updated policy offers tougher penalties for road offences committed by commercial vehicles
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The overhaul by the DVSA comes as the agency hopes to ensure consistent enforcement action across all roadside inspections, marking a significant tightening of commercial vehicle regulations.
The changes will now see fixed penalty notices range from £50 to £300, depending on the severity of the offence, with the most serious violations attracting the highest penalties.
For drivers' hours breaches, penalties will now be applied based on the extent of the violation. The changes see motorists who exceed driving time by 15 minutes to one hour incur a £100 fine, while one to two hours results in £200, and over two hours attracts the maximum £300 penalty.
The policy also introduces a four-tier fixed penalty system, with Level 1 offences at £50, Level 2 at £100, Level 3 at £200, and Level 4 at £300.
HGV drivers will need to ensure their vehicles meet the DVSA safety requirements
PAHistorical drivers' hours offences committed within the previous 28 days can now be penalised through fixed penalties, representing a significant expansion of enforcement powers.
Roadworthiness checks will become significantly stricter, with immediate prohibition notices issued for defects that could cause danger to any person.
The policy also distinguishes between immediate and delayed prohibitions, with dangerous defects resulting in "instant vehicle removal from service".
Each defect will be categorised with an "S" marking for significant maintenance failures, indicating issues that should have been detected through routine checks or were obvious to drivers.
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The policy update also sees fixed penalties of £100 accompany immediate prohibitions where defects demonstrate "clear maintenance system failures".
This includes long-standing defects that should have been identified during safety checks or issues apparent through vehicle performance and warning systems.
The new enforcement measures introduce a graduated penalty system for drivers' hours violations, with offences involving driving 15 hours or more without proper breaks attracting £300 fines and Most Serious Infringement status.
Tachograph offences face equally severe sanctions, with drivers failing to use record sheets or driver cards receiving £300 penalties and "immediate prohibitions".
Motorists are required to record their hours on a tachograph, with drivers fined for failing to follow the rules
GETTYMeanwhile, overloaded vehicles can also incur penalties, with vehicles five to 10 per cent overweight incurring £100 fines, while vehicles 10 to 15 per cent overweight attract £200, and 15 to 30 per cent resulting in £300 penalties. Vehicles which exceed the weight limit by more than 30 per cent will face prosecution.
The policy mandates that only one fixed penalty notice will be issued per encounter for the most serious offence when multiple violations are detected.
However, the update means that non-UK registered vehicles receive no exemptions, with foreign drivers treated as agents for their operators and facing identical sanctions.
The changes dictate that fixed penalties must be paid immediately if drivers cannot provide a verifiable UK address, with vehicles prohibited from continuing journeys until payment is received.
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