Operator Compliance Risk Score - OCRS
Introduction
Operator Compliance Risk Score (OCRS) has been in use by Vosa since 2006. It is a tool that VOSA designed to assist its Examiners in the targeting process in an effort to improve road safety by removing poorly maintained vehicles from UK roads. It is also a mechanism used to calculate which operators are most likely to be non-compliant when checked at the roadside and is used by Vosa officers to prioritise investigations of non-compliant operators who are most likely to be operating outside the law.
Following a delay in the introduction of a series of changes on 30 April 2012, these changes came into effect on 1 October 2012. These changes are being introduced following concerns from the industry in general and are as follows:
Predictive scoring
Although evidence and analysis indicates that operators with similar profiles will have similar risk ratings, predictive scores have been unhelpful when selecting individual vehicles for inspection - and have the added disadvantage of masking an operator's lack of contact with VOSA. So, from 30 April predictive scores will be replaced with a no score - a 'grey fleet' marking. This will show that VOSA has no data with which to rate that operator's risk of non-compliance.
In the majority of cases 'grey fleet' operators tend to have no score either for roadworthiness (determined at annual test and roadside mechanical inspections), or for traffic enforcement (determined by roadside document inspections and prosecutions), but not both at once.
Available data
To make the OCRS more robust, more accurate and more up-to-date, VOSA will move from a rolling two-year dataset that calculates the OCRS from the end of the previous month to a rolling three-year dataset, starting from May 2009, which will calculate the OCRS from the end of the previous week.
Points system
Some operators have commented that it is not always easy to understand how points received for a defect or offence will impact on their score. To address this, Vosa will move point allocation for traffic offences to the same system as for mechanical defects - graduated based on the severity of the offence. So, rather than different points for each defect or offence, VOSA will be moving to a set number of points based upon the seriousness of the defect or offence.
For example, an immediate prohibition for brakes or tyres will receive more points than one for defective bodywork. Defects found at annual test will be treated in a similar way to those found at roadside. 'S' marked defects will incur double points.
The Graduated Fixed Penalty and Deposit bandings will apply to all offences detected at the roadside. OCRS points will also be applied when VOSA issues a prohibition for Hazchem offences.
Prosecutions
Rather than allocating a score when VOSA sends the paperwork to a court to issue a summons, points for a prosecution will in future only be added in the instance of a conviction.
How points are Scored
Points are scored on the following basis:
Turning over a new leaf
VOSA also recognises that its inspection priorities delay many operators who are only a few points in the amber from 'rehabilitating' themselves to green. So going forward from 30 April, all points will be weighted by age. More recent defects/offences will be given more points than older ones. As the incident becomes older, so the points will reduce and the operator's score will become greener - giving operators the chance to improve their score, even without a clear encounter with VOSA.
Red shift
However, some events will trigger an operator's status to red, whatever their underlying score. For example, a conviction will move an operator to red for a 12 month period, after which the operator will revert to the status merited by their baseline score.
If as the result of a roadside inspection an operator receives a Most Serious Infringement (MSI) as defined in Regulation (EC) 1071/2009 their status will move to red for six months. If another MSI is issued in this time, the six months will start again. However, if no further points are received, at the end of six months the operator will revert to their baseline score status.
For further clarification here, please read VOSA's Operator Compliance Risk Score - FAQ's
RAG rating
VOSA is also looking to move from 10 bands, each containing a fixed percentage of operators, to a system where operators are rated as Red, Amber or Green (RAG) depending on their baseline score.
This means that an operator will only move between bands as either the result of a vehicle inspection or the result of the weighting factor reducing the OCRS Score.
VOSA's inspection priorities will be based upon this new banding, with red rated operators being the first priority, followed by grey fleet, then amber, then green. This will ensure that VOSA continue to target those vehicles most at risk of non-compliance and also get to know all those operators who have not yet had the chance to establish their own score.
Most serious Infringements (MSI)
These are as defined in Regulation 1071/2009, Annex IV. To all intent and purpose they are considered 'The Seven Deadly Sins' and are as follows:
- Exceeding Drivers' hours:
(a) Exceeding the maximum 6-day or fortnightly driving time limits by margins of 25% or more;
(b) Exceeding, during a daily working period, the maximum daily driving time limit by a margin of 50% or more without taking a break or without an uninterrupted rest period of at least 4.5 hours - Fraud:
Not having a tachograph and/or speed limiter. Using a fraudulent device (eg a magnet) able to modify the records of the recording equipment and/or the speed limiter. Falsifying record sheets or data downloaded from the tachograph and/or the driver card. - Unsafe Vehicle:
Driving without a valid roadworthiness certificate, if such a document is required under Community law. Driving with a very serious deficiency that would create such an immediate risk to road safety that it leads to a decision to immobilise the vehicle. This includes:
a) braking system
b) steering linkages
c) wheels/tyres
d) suspension or chassis. - Dangerous Goods:
Transporting dangerous goods that are prohibited for transport. Transporting such goods in a prohibited or non-approved means of containment or without identifying them on the vehicle as dangerous, so endangering lives or the environment to such extent that it leads to a decision to immobilise the vehicle. - Unlicensed:
Carrying passengers or goods without holding a valid driving licence or carrying by an undertaking not holding a valid Community licence. - False Documents:
Driving with a falsified driver card. Driving with a card that does not belong to the driver. Driving with a card which has been obtained on the basis of false declarations and/or forged documents. - Overloaded:
Overloaded by 20% or more for vehicles with a permissible laden weight of 12 tonnes or more. Overloaded by 25% or more for vehicles with a permissible laden weight under 12 tonnes.
For more information, and to answer the many questions that will arise from the above, please use the link below.
