End to relaxed preventative maintenance
As lockdown restrictions ease, the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain have updated their coronavirus advice document for operators. This includes an end to relaxed preventative maintenance inspection (PMI) intervals from 1 September 2020.
Operators unable to access maintenance facilities due to the pandemic were given the option to extend the usual maintenance intervals for their vehicles. The Traffic Commissioners have taken the decision to end this policy. Operators can stick to the extended maintenance schedules for their vehicles until the first inspection after 1 September. After that inspection, they must revert to the interval specified on their operator’s licence.
The temporary local bus service processes has been extended until 4 January 2021 to allow operators opportunity to consider any permanent changes that may be required.
Another change is an increase in the notice period for service variations for Local Authorities from 24 hours to 72 hours in England and Scotland. This change is now in effect. There is no equivalent notice period in Wales for Local Authorities.
Other updates include guidance about:
- amending a registered local bus service to become a school or works bus service
- the use of additional vehicles on services
The ‘Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for Heavy Goods (HGV) and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operators’ document can be accessed here.