More than 100 lorry operators caught cheating emissions

Hundreds of lorry drivers and haulage firms have been threatened with fines after inspectors discovered emissions cheating devices fitted to their vehicles.

Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) officials searched 3,795 lorries at five locations in Great Britain between August and November last year, and discovered 293 vehicles using the devices.

The agency said that the drivers and operators that were caught were given 10 days to fix the emissions system or face a £300 fine and risk of having the vehicle taken off the road.

Gareth Llewellyn, DVSA chief executive, said: “DVSA’s priority is to protect you from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

“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.”

The DVSA says that it is inspecting more than 100 operators’ vehicle fleets for emissions cheating devices, adding that some fleets have up to 80 vehicles. The agency is passing its findings on to the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain, which has the power to revoke a haulier’s licence.

Richard Burnett, Road Haulage Association chief executive, said: “We’re very clear that it’s completely unacceptable to falsify emissions readings.

“The industry is making great strides in helping reduce harmful toxins through the adoption of greener vehicles and technologies, so we take a very dim view of the few who use emulators and other methods to cheat the system.”

The DVSA says there are a number of cheat devices on the market, including software designed to trick emissions control systems from working, making illegal engine modifications or removing the diesel particulate filter. All are designed to reduce costs but can result in excessive nitrogen dioxide emissions entering the atmosphere.