Keeping your vehicle safe
Drivers and operators are legally responsible for the safety and roadworthiness of the vehicle they are using.
Roadworthiness
Roadworthiness means keeping to the proper vehicle construction, road safety, environmental and operating standards needed by law. The vehicle must not present a risk of injury to any road user.
Operators
Operators must have suitable maintenance, inspection, reporting and audit systems in place to make sure that any issues are fixed before they become unsafe.
Drivers
Drivers must make sure that their vehicle is roadworthy, carrying out pre use checks, reporting any defects that occur and taking suitable action when they notice any issues.
More information
Legal requirements and best practice guidance for goods vehicles and buses can be found in the DVA guide to maintaining roadworthiness.
Although the guide is written for goods vehicles and buses, there will be useful information within which will be applicable to drivers and operators of other vehicle types.
Enforcement
DVA Enforcement officers carry out roadside checks for compliance with these requirements, and also carry out operator compliance audits to make sure they have suitable systems in place.
Safety lighting on school buses
Most school buses in Northern Ireland must display two warnings to the front and rear which tell drivers to take extra care as school children will be onboard.
They will appear as:
- an illuminated sign depicting two children walking
- flashing amber lights which flash alternately when children are getting on or off the bus.
Drivers of school buses must make sure that the equipment is in working order and operated correctly, reporting any defects to the vehicle operator.
A driver who operates the equipment incorrectly may be given a £30 fixed penalty ticket for each offence; the maximum penalty on successful conviction is a maximum fine of £2500. The same maximum fine applies for an operator who fails to make sure the equipment is fitted or maintained correctly.
You can report misuse of school bus lighting or faulty school bus lighting, confidentially, to DVA Compliance and Enforcement section.