Goods delivery drivers must perform walk around checks on their vehicles this November, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has urged.

A 15% increase in the weight of goods being transported on the roads last year during the Black Friday and Christmas periods means these are now the busiest months of the year for Britain’s roads.

The DVSA has reported that there were 171 deaths on Britain’s roads in December last year, which was a dramatic increase on the previous months.

As a result, lorry drivers are encouraged to perform walk around checks before every journey they take.

DVSA’s head of enforcement Murray-Ross said: “DVSA is committed to protecting you from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

“Late November and December are the busiest times for Britain’s roads, and also the most dangerous.

“With icy roads, cold weather, high winds, and short daylight hours, it’s vital that lorry drivers make sure that their vehicles are safe to drive.”

Lead traffic commissioners for enforcement Sarah Bell and Kevin Rooney said: “Traffic commissioners fully support DVSA’s message to drivers and operators.

"The driver walkaround check is an absolutely critical part of every maintenance regime.

“Having a robust driver defect reporting system can prevent a potentially dangerous or unroadworthy vehicle from going out on to the road network.

“Operators need to make sure their procedures are effective and this goes beyond drivers completing defect reporting sheets.

"They need to be satisfied the checks are being done properly and thoroughly, that defects are being rectified and that commercial decisions never override safety issues.”