Historical Drivers’ Hours Offences – 1 Year On

Thursday March 2019

HISTORICAL DRIVERS HOURS’ OFFENCES – ONE YEAR ON!

A DVSA traffic examiner at a computer checking vehicle records

Prior to 5th March 2018, DVSA examiners could only issue a fine for on-going drivers hours’ offences, even though they committed other offences.  This meant the DVSA would have to take the drivers’ to court which was difficult and expensive especially if they were non-UK drivers.

Since 5th March 2018, DVSA examiners have been able to issue on the spot fines up to £300 per offence on any drivers hours’ offence that occurred in the previous 28 days.  The total amount per stop could reach up to £1500!

In the year before the changes came into effect the DVSA performed 80,418 roadside checks on drivers hours’ offences, issuing 4,236 fixed penalties generating a total of £478,400 in fines.

In the first year since the changes the DVSA performed 73,147 roadside checks on drivers hours’ offences, issuing 19,723 fixed penalties generating a total of £3,653,450 in fines.

The number of fixed penalties issued has increased by 465% and the amount of fines has increased by 763% in just 1 year!

To avoid these hefty fines along with making our roads safer the message is loud and clear to all drivers –

TAKE YOUR BREAKS!

To read the article in full please click here

Historical drivers’ hours offences: 1 year on