In a world with legislation, it is easy to incur accidental fines or penalties. Many of these relate to the cleanliness of the vehicle, as well as the washing method. In this article, we highlight some of the high-risk areas for HGV fines and penalties, each of which can be avoided with a high-quality, reliable bus wash system.
The type of compliance depends upon your company. If your organisation is involved in construction, farming, or waste management, it is vital that your fleet is clean. Under the Highways Act 1980 (sections 137, 148, 149, and 161), the fines begin at £1000 and can exceed £1 million. For all HGV vehicles, regardless of the industry, cleanliness is part of the required daily walkaround check for vehicle safety, inspecting windscreens, lenses, and spray suppression. This is easily achieved with a 50-second trip through a streamline bus wash.
In addition to safety, the daily walkaround check includes visibility. For instance, the number plate must be visible, with fines beginning at £1000 for dirty plates. This is also important for reasons beyond legal compliance. Automated numberplate recognition is increasingly used for toll bridges and roads and low emission zones, making accidental fines a daily risk. Other visibility requirements are reflectors, markers, warning plates, and hazard information panels. A daily record of the check and cleanliness must be kept by the company, and a defect form completed if visibility is not assured. As such, a rapid, energy-efficient, clean in a drive-through bus wash will ensure visibility compliance.
Vehicles can easily become damaged by roadways, especially during the winter when grit and salt are plentiful. Salt is corrosive, and unless it is rapidly cleaned can lead to extensive damage. This can lead to a failed MOT and, potentially, a hefty fine. Remember that roadside checks are routinely carried out in the UK and abroad, with on-the-spot fines and licence points for any vehicle deemed unroadworthy. In Europe, the ‘overall condition’ of the HGV is inspected, and this can occur at a specialist centre, where any corrosive damage can be heavily penalised. Regular washing with a reliable, automated bus wash can prevent damage as well as making the vehicle look smarter, reducing the risk of it being pulled over.
It is not only the cleanliness and maintenance of HGVs and commercial vehicles that can lead to expensive fines. Increasingly, waste is something that is measured as part of environmental violations, and water contamination is heavily regulated. The Environment Agency will bring cases against companies that introduce polluted water, even if this is from something such as sediment. As such, it is very important to use HGV wash systems that capture, clean, and recycle water runoff. This can help to enhance the sustainability profile of the company while ensuring that no environmental damage occurs.
It is worth bearing in mind that all HGVs are advertising platforms. As such, they are responsible for carrying the vision, image, and philosophy of the company. Dirt and grime can therefore do more than obscure vital information such as telephone numbers and website detail. They can accidentally send an unfortunate message to potential clients, and the damage of this can outweigh the cost of fines.
Keeping HGV fleets clean is important for multiple reasons, and many of these are related to unwanted costs. Investing in high-end, reliable, rapid cleaning equipment can therefore save more than just headaches. To learn more, get free advice from Britannia today.
Image Source: Canva