In the first three months since the DVSA started to include checks for emissions cheat devices in roadside checks of lorries at five locations across Great Britain, it has found that 8% are breaking the law.
DVSA examiners searched 3,735 lorries and found 293 with a cheat device fitted.
The drivers and operators were given 10 days to fix the system, or face a £300 fine and having the vehicle taken off the road.
Where a driver or operator repeatedly offends, DVSA can take the vehicle off the road immediately.
Cheat devices cut the cost of operating, but give false emissions readings which can result in the release of excessive emissions into the atmosphere.
Some of the way this is done include:
– using devices designed to stop emissions control systems from working
– removing the diesel particulate filter or trap
– using cheap, fake emission reduction devices or diesel exhaust fluid
– using illegal engine modifications which result in excessive emissions
– removing or bypassing the exhaust gas recirculation valve
