>> Home > Press office > Press releases > Archive from 2005 > Press release no:12 - Update to stay safe
Over 300,000 drivers could be risking serious accidents because they have failed to update the information on their driving documents, according to figures from the DVLA.
Over one million vehicles with safety defects are recalled and reworked by manufacturers each year, with information about the registered keeper used to trace defective vehicles. Currently 32% of vehicle registration certificates (V5C) contain inaccurate information and if owners cannot be traced and informed that their vehicles are defective it can result in serious accidents on the road.
Drivers are being urged to help reduce the risk of accidents on UK roads by checking that their vehicle registration certificate is accurate and up-to-date. Road safety initiatives such as the ‘Vehicle Safety Defects’ recall scheme depend on the accuracy of information provided by individuals. The scheme, supervised by the Vehicle & Operator Services Agency (VOSA), uses keeper information provided by DVLA to trace affected vehicles. Drivers are being encouraged to ‘Update Your Details’ and help improve road safety.
Jeffrey Sweeting, Vehicle Safety Branch Manager at VOSA said:
“It is in the public’s own best interest to ensure that information held on their driving documents are accurate, so they can be notified quickly of any safety defect affecting their vehicle. Safety defects can cause fatal accidents, so the onus really is on the motorist to take responsibility for their vehicle, and make sure the information held by DVLA is up to date.”
‘Update Your Details’ is part of an existing Government campaign to reduce death and serious injury on the road by 40% by 2010. The scheme will help ensure that vehicles on the road are safe and do not pose a risk to others.
Any work carried out on recalled vehicles is free of charge. Information on how to update the driving licence and vehicle registration document can be found at www.directgov.uk/motoring or at the Post Office® .
Paul Watters, Head of Motoring Policy at the AA Motoring Trust added:
"Remembering to keep driving licence and vehicle records up to date with DVLA is something every motorist has a responsibility to do. It could safeguard you against a potentially serious defect by making sure you can be contacted if a common fault is uncovered in similar vehicles. It's in every motorist’s interest."
Interviews available on request.
For more information please contact:
Charlotte Davies
Tel: 020 7299 8748
Email: charlotte.davies@geronimocommunications.com
Any enquiries relating to the information contained in this press release should be referred to DVLA. Please do not contact Geronimo PR.
Notes to editors:
1. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency is an Executive Agency of the Department for Transport (DfT).
2. DVLA is responsible for issuing documents, and keeping records for, all drivers and vehicles in Great Britain. DVLA also collects and enforces payments of vehicle excise duty (VED).
3. DVLA has launched the ‘Update Your Details’ campaign to remind all UK drivers to update their driving licence and vehicle registration details when their personal details change i.e. name and/or address.
4. The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was created on 1 April 2003 by merging the Former Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network Division of the Department for Transport. VOSA is responsible for: