Hi IOSH members,

Does anyone work for the AA, RAC, auto windscreens, any self employed mobile mechanics? Or have any knowledge of repairing vehicles in the street?

I work for an organisation spread across Europe. We are looking to complete repairs to our fleet of micromobility vehicles (e bikes and e scooters) in the street or from vans, or on foot. 

What I am looking for:

• Is it legal to complete repairs in the street? (Auto windscreen etc do)
• What limitations are there, emergencies only? Time limits?
• Do you need a permit?
• If you complete these on private ground, e.g. agreeing supermarket carpark, can you do what you like?
• Is there particular regulation in the UK which covers this?
• Is this derived from an EU directive which I can search to find the relevant regulation in other european countries?

Any help, guidance or resources would be appreciated.

Thanks

Joe

I am going to guess that you are making a rather broad ask when the answer will be on a local authority basis.

e-scooters are currently illegal on the UK public highway EXCEPT where part of an official trial so in any council area not running sanctioned trials the e-scooters would be subject to seizure.

You really need to talk to the local authority as to what they do or do not permit - I doubt you would be allowed to park a van on a bus-lane / red-route / yellow lines or any other location deemed inappropriate by the highway code. The devices you are talking about can be readily moved.

Vehicle breakdown services attempt street repairs to get vehicles moving but may tow to a safer location.

Windscreen replacements will not be conducted in live lanes of major routes - genrally in quieter residential streets or in car parks.

You then have to consider that the councils enforcement organisations may consider any tool or component placed on the ground to be littering.

You also need to think that materials such as chain lubricants & oils or battery acids should be prevented from entering surface waters i.e. no spillage to ground.

You would be much safer taking them back to a workshop for repair OR carry significant public liability insurance for when those trip accidents happen if you have bits all over a pavement.

Originally Posted by: Bennett31384

Hi thanks for the information,

Yes we are part of legitimate council trials across the UK. I take on board all of your points, and of course for the safety of personnnel. We would not think of repairing in or near the carriage way, blocking routes with vans, manageing chemicals and the environmental impact etc

Agreed it is better to repair in a fixed location where more controls can be put in place, but the transport costs can be significant in comparison to revenue. The world of micromobility has very tight margins and most micromobility operators do not turn a profit yet. So we are investigating the legality to repair in the field, to improve profotability,hence my question.

Is it your belief this is locally governed by councils? Is there no over arching rules fromm central government. This is the piece I am really trying to find out. If for eaxmple this was dervived from an EU directive then I can start to see how this was implemented in the other countries across Europe.

Any other thoughts?

Have you checked out the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005?

Part 2 Section 4 states:

Repairing vehicles on a road

(1)A person who carries out restricted works on a motor vehicle on a road is guilty of an offence, subject as follows.

(2)For the purposes of this section “restricted works” means—

(a)works for the repair, maintenance, servicing, improvement or dismantling of a motor vehicle or of any part of or accessory to a motor vehicle;

(b)works for the installation, replacement or renewal of any such part or accessory.

(3)A person is not to be convicted of an offence under this section in relation to any works if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that the works were not carried out—

(a)in the course of, or for the purposes of, a business of carrying out restricted works; or

(b)for gain or reward.

(4)Subsection (3) does not apply where the carrying out of the works gave reasonable cause for annoyance to persons in the vicinity.

(5)A person is also not to be convicted of an offence under this section in relation to any works if he proves to the satisfaction of the court that the works carried out were works of repair which—

(a)arose from an accident or breakdown in circumstances where repairs on the spot or elsewhere on the road were necessary; and

(b)were carried out within 72 hours of the accident or breakdown or were within that period authorised to be carried out at a later time by the local authority for the area.

(6)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale.

Not sure if vehicles would come under this act, but worth checking.

Originally Posted by: 846parkers

Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005?

That helps explain the responses on several Police force web sites about conducting vehicle repairs in the street.