More than 80 per cent of owner-operator van drivers running small fleets of vehicles are unaware of legislation that makes them responsible for the working condition of a vehicle driven by one of their staff.
More than 80 per cent of owner-operator van drivers running small fleets of vehicles are unaware of legislation that makes them responsible for the working condition of a vehicle driven by one of their staff.
In the worst scenario, owners risk jail sentences under Corporate Manslaughter legislation if one of their staff is involved in an accident resulting in death or serious injury and the vehicle is found to be defective.
Government data, supplied by the Vehicle and Operator Standards Agency (VOSA), showed that at least 50 per cent of vans fail their first MoT roadworthiness test, with many older vans often exhibiting more serious faults, such as structural corrosion. The vast majority of MoT failures relate to vehicle lighting, brakes and steering components.
VansA2Z.com Managing Director, Kevin Gregory, said: “Illegal, badly maintained vans are a peril to other road users, and many owners are not only unaware of the faults on some of their fleet vehicles, but also of their personal liability if something does go horribly wrong.”
