The DVSA has revealed that its examiners found almost 300 lorries fitted with emissions cheat devices on Britain’s roads during roadside checks conducted between August and November 2017.

Last August, DVSA started to include checks for emissions cheat devices in roadside checks of lorries at five locations across Great Britain. By the end of November, DVSA examiners had searched 3,735 lorries at these locations and found 293 lorries with a cheat device fitted. The drivers and operators were given 10 days to fix the emissions system or face a £300 fine and having the vehicle taken off the road.

Cheat devices cut the cost of operating diesel vehicles, but give false emissions readings, which can result in the release of excessive emissions into the atmosphere.

DVSA is passing its findings on to the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, who have the power to take away an operator’s licence. The Agency is also working with its counterparts across Europe to make sure all offences committed by operators from outside Great Britain are dealt with in the country where they are based.

DVSA’s Chief Executive Gareth Llewellyn said, “We are committed to taking dangerous lorries off Britain’s roads. Stopping emissions fraud is a vital part of that. Anyone who flouts the law is putting the quality of our air and the health of vulnerable people at risk. We won’t hesitate to take action against these drivers, operators and vehicles.”

Following the success of this initial operation, DVSA will start checking for emissions cheat devices at more locations across Great Britain from spring 2018.