Vehicle Safety and Maintenance: Checks, Tyres, Brakes and Loads
What the exam tests
This domain tests the daily walkaround check, legal tyre and light requirements, brake awareness, and load security for goods vehicles. Expect practical questions about what you must check before moving off and what defects make a vehicle unroadworthy.
Core rules and concepts
- Daily walkaround: check tyres, lights, reflectors, brakes (including air pressure warning), mirrors, wipers, fluids, load restraints, and bodywork. Record defects and report them; do not drive a vehicle with a dangerous defect.
- Tyres: for goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, the legal minimum tread depth is 1.0 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the circumference. Check pressures when cold and look for cuts, bulges, and exposed cords.
- Lights: all obligatory lights must work and be clean. A broken lens or incorrect colour can fail a roadworthiness check.
- Load security: the load must be restrained so it cannot move or fall; it must not obscure lights, plates, or mirrors; axle weights and gross vehicle weight must not be exceeded.
Worked example
A curtain-sided truck is loaded with pallets. The driver finds one strap loose and a pallet leaning against the curtain. Correct action: stop, re-stack and secure the load with rated straps or bars before moving. The curtain is not a load restraint. Driving on because the journey is short would be a defect and a danger.
Traps that cost marks
- Checking only the tyre centre tread and ignoring sidewall damage.
- Setting tyre pressures when tyres are hot.
- Assuming the curtain or tail-lift secures the load.
- Ignoring a brake warning or air-pressure buzzer.