The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has produced this Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness: Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehiclesto explain the responsibilities and systems involved in maintaining vehicles in a roadworthy condition, regardless of operating conditions, fleet size or vehicle type. The procedures and systems explained in this Guide are useful for operators, drivers and all those who are responsible for operating, maintaining or providing commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles. The general principles apply equally for light goods and passenger vehicles below the operator licensing thresholds and for vehicles that are otherwise exempt.
“It is not enough to rely on a maintenance system alone, because this cannot ensure that vehicles are roadworthy. To ensure best practice, you will need to combine good quality maintenance practices and skills with supervision and effective management of the system.”