1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140 
LETTER OF THE WEEK
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
There are good reasons for
fixing gred seals` to tachos IN RESPONSE TO the letter 'Thanks for all your help VOSA' (CM 16 April), I would like to clarify the purpose of the "missing red seal" which Mr Sindle seems to have misunderstood.
The purpose of the red seal is to identify that the tachograph has been legally calibrated and secured by an Approved Tachograph Centre. The seal is stamped by the tachograph centre technician to record that the centre has performed its work and secured the tachograph.
The seal is a legally required indication that the tachograph is calibrated. Using a tachograph that is not calibrated is an offence. If a seal is missing or broken it suggests that the tachograph may have been adjusted by someone unauthorised to do so, ce the seal has not been replaced.
Mr Sindle has indicated he has taken positive steps towards preparing his vehicle for annual test. However, it would be advisable that all operators check the tachograph is calibrated and sealed as part of those pre-checks. This should also be performed as part of the regular safety inspections. Drivers should also be aware that the tachograph should be checked frequently.
This was an avoidable failure, and VOSA hopes that by highlighting the relevance of the red tachograph seal, it will reduce the likelihood of similar annual test failures in the future.
Both the Guide to Roadworthiness and the Rules on Drivers flours and Tachographs, published by VOSA and available from www.vosa.gov.uk, should help to clarify the responsibilities of the owner and/or driver.
Chris Dormand
Tachograph & speed Limiter schemes manager VOSA