The Testing Issue of Brakes!

Most operators are aware of the need to roller brake test their vehicles and trailers at annual test, but are they or you (if you operate an 'O' licensed fleet), aware of what the Office of the Traffic Commissioners (OTC) actually require?

To get to the root of the requirements of the OTC, we need to unpick the guidance issued in DVSA's Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness and decipher the language used. Phrases such as 'strongly advised' and 'normally expected' actually mean this is a 'must' not an option. So let's have a look at the guidance on brake testing and attempt to put it in plain English!

There are three accepted methods of brake testing, Roller Brake Testing, decelerometer (Tapley Meter or similar) and road testing, HOWEVER (capitalisation intended and not excused), not all of these methods are acceptable for all brake test events owing to their accuracy - read on!

Roller Brake Tests (RBT) are the preferred option and are mandated as part of the annual test (MOT) for both vehicles and trailers, and measure brake force through rollers in direct contact with the road wheels. Decelerometers, such as the Tapley Meter or Bowmonk BrakeCheck are approved by DVSA for 'interim' brake testing and indicate brake force by measuring the time taken to bring a vehicle to a halt from a set speed (usually 20 mph) on a level road. Finally, there's road testing which is the most basic of the testing regimes and relies solely on the fitter's experience.

Having explained the methods of brake testing, let's now unpick the guidance given by DVSA. The first thing that is clear, is that at least one brake test per year must be a roller brake test and carried out at MOT. The guide goes on to say that "..it is normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test."

So this tells us as operators and transport managers that our vehicles need to undergo at least (keep this in mind for a moment) four brake tests in a calendar year. It doesn't tell us the frequency of those tests, but for now, lets settle for quarterly i.e. every 12 weeks or every other 6 weekly inspction.

So far, DVSA (and therefore the OTC) guide has mandated one RBT per year plus a further three brake tests which needn't be RBT's, by virtue of this "it is also acceptable to use an approved and calibrated Decelerometer to test vehicles without trailers to measure overall brake efficiency values."

DVSA go further and appear to loosen their guidence even more by saying "where it is impracticable to obtain a brake efficiency result on a safety inspection the brake performance must still be assessed by means of a road test carried out under controlled and safe conditions.."

So, the upshot of all this (you might think), is that one RBT at MOT time plus three further brake tests throughout the year, which could be either decelrometer tests or road tests, or a mix of both is sufficient, BUT IT ISN'T.

What most operators have forgotten by the time they have read through all of the jumbled up guidance is that the first sentence at the very start of the section on brake testing says "..every safety inspection must assess the braking performance of the vehicle or trailer." So thats every six weeks then, or whatever your inspection period is!

And, if you think you can get away with a decelerometer check or road test, the second sentence points out that "It is strongly advised that a calibrated roller brake tester (RBT) is used at each safety inspection.."

So remembering that in the eyes of the OTC 'strongly advised' means 'must' - a calibrated roller brake test is required at every periodic mechanical safety inspection.

Would have been much easier if they said this in the first place!

If you run a business that holds an operator’s licence and you feel you may not be compliant in all areas of your transport operation, give us a call for free, friendly and professional advice. Can you afford not to?

Call Steve Rounds & Associates Limited on 01543 321535, email [email protected] or visit https://www.steverounds.co.uk