DVSA begins nationwide crackdown on truck emission cheats

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) enforcement staff are now routinely checking trucks they stop at the roadside across Great Britain for emissions cheat devices.

The national rollout of checks, which began on 1 September, follows a successful year-long pilot. During the pilot, DVSA enforcement staff caught 449 emission cheats at five sites across the country.

Cheat devices, such as AdBlue emulators, can cut costs for operators, but give false emission readings, which mean a truck can produce up to 20 times more dangerous emissions.

Drivers caught with an emissions cheat device or a faulty emissions control system have 10 days to remove the device and repair their emissions system. If they continue to use a device or fail to repair the system, they can be fined £300 and have their vehicle taken off the road.

DVSA will then carry out a follow-up investigation with the operator. DVSA can refer its findings to the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, who have the power to strip a company of its licence to operate.

Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA chief executive, said: “DVSA’s priority is protecting the public from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

“A vehicle doesn’t have to be falling apart to be unsafe – any driver or operator who uses cheat devices to get around emissions rules is putting the health of the entire nation at risk.

“DVSA will take the strongest possible action against anyone who tries to cheat emissions rules.”