Senior Traffic Commissioner (TC) Richard Turfitt (pictured) has further updated his emergency guidance. It includes principles relating to vehicles that are taken out of use during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
The document clarifies that the PMI schedule for an out of use vehicle is paused during that period. It also recommends that a pre-use inspection is carried out prior to it being returned to service.
However the guidance from the Senior TC goes on to say that a vehicle that has exceeded its normal PMI period may instead be subject to “an enhanced walk-round check” carried out by a technically competent person (a technician “if possible”) before being returned to the road.
Vehicles that are over 12 years old and more than 50% or four weeks – whichever is greater – over their PMI cycle must receive a full inspection before returning to use. Additionally, no vehicle may be put into service if more than 17 weeks have passed since its last full PMI.