This article was written by Dom Hutchinson, Head of Operations at Holman, a fleet management provider.

Vehicle Roadworthiness: Build a Preventative Strategy for Safer Fleets

Roadworthy vehicles protect drivers and other road users. They also help you meet your legal duties. The most effective fleets prevent problems rather than react to them. They build roadworthiness into daily work through driver checks, planned maintenance and good use of data.

The Cost of a Reactive Approach

Some fleets only act when a warning light comes on, a fault develops or an MOT is due. By then, costs are usually higher. Vehicles can be off the road for longer. Drivers may already have faced avoidable risk.

Keeping vehicles roadworthy is one of the best ways to protect drivers and other road users. It also keeps your operation reliable. Department for Transport road safety data shows that 102 vehicles involved in fatal or serious road collisions in Great Britain during 2025 were assigned vehicle defect road safety factor, including defective tyres and other vehicle defects. (Road Safety Statistics Data Table RAS0702, Vehicle number, FSC unadjusted, 2025 values)

A preventative approach helps you spot problems earlier. You cut disruption, run safer vehicles and can show you meet your duty of care.

Roadworthiness is Everyone’s Job

A good maintenance programme is not enough on its own. You also need clear ownership across your organisation. Drivers, fleet managers and maintenance providers each help find and fix defects before they become safety risks. A simple model works well:

• Drivers know how and when to complete checks
• Fleet teams monitor completed checks and defect trends
• Maintenance partners give clear updates on repairs, downtime and repeat faults

Put Drivers at the Centre

Daily vehicle checks are one of the simplest ways to improve roadworthiness. Drivers are often the first to spot wear, damage or a developing fault. Encourage regular checks and prompt defect reports. This cuts the chance of an unsafe vehicle staying in service.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), for example, recommends a daily walkaround check for vans.

A walkaround check should cover:

• Tyre condition and tread depth
• Lights and indicators
• Mirrors, windscreens and windows
• Dashboard warning lights
• Brake performance
• Steering
• Bodywork and visible damage

Digital checking apps can make checks quicker to complete and record. They also give fleet managers a clear view of reported defects and the repairs that follow.

Use Planned Maintenance to Stay Ahead

Planned maintenance fixes issues before they affect safety, compliance or availability. It also reduces unplanned downtime.

Dom Hutchinson, Head of Operations at Holman, explains: “Well-run fleets take full advantage of low-demand periods by completing the work that keeps vehicles reliable and available during busier seasons.”

He adds: “Rather than striving for high operational utilisation year-round, the focus shifts to high fleet utilisation, ensuring all necessary lifecycle activities are completed when they cause the least disruption.”

In practice, this means booking MOTs, servicing and tyre replacements for quieter periods. You then keep vehicles on the road when demand is highest.