VOSA is introducing a series of changes to the OCRS from 30 April to make the system more accurate, more robust and more flexible.

Predictive scoring

VOSA has replaced predictive scores with a zero score – a ‘grey fleet’ marking. This will show that VOSA has no data with which to rate that operator’s risk of non-compliance. VOSA staff will be asked to target grey fleet vehicles immediately after ‘red’ rated vehicles to reduce the number of ‘unknowns’ in the system.

Available data

To make the OCRS more robust, VOSA will move from a rolling two-year dataset that calculates OCRS from the end of the previous month, to a rolling three-year dataset, that will start from May 2009 and will calculate the OCRS from the end of the previous week.

Points system

Point allocation for traffic offences will be moved to the same system as for mechanical defects, graduated based on the severity of the offence. A set number of points will be allocated based on the seriousness of the defect or offence.

Weighting by age

All points are now weighted by age. As defects/offences slip into the past, their weighting will reduce and the operator’s score will become greener.

Red shift

However, some events will trigger an operator to red whatever their baseline score. Some of the most serious infringements will result in a red status for a six month period, after which the operator will revert to the status merited by their baseline score.

Fixed RAG bands

VOSA is also looking to move to a system where operators are rated as Red, Amber or Green depending on their baseline score – rather than continuing with a fixed percentage of operators in each band.

This means that operators will only move between the bands as a result of a vehicle inspection or because of a weighting factor.

More information on the new system can be found at www.vosa.gov.uk/ocrs-faqs

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