I have just been talking to a driver who tells me that VOSA will impose a fine on any driver who hasn’t got a working torch… he told me that he learnt this on a driver CPC course… I am speechless !!!.. well almost ! Comments please… and don’t hold back … LOL
Really? I’m shocked, you managed to get more than a grunt out of a fellow lorry driver 
Did he begin the sentence with, “My Mate Told Me?” 
Was he an ADR driver?
Its true you need an working torch as part of your ADR kit, but as for normal day to day stuff, i’ve never heard of that!
Its probably for the min 30minute daily walkaround.
You need a torch to positively identify a VOSA person
If you can shine it through one ear and see light on the other side you have a genuine one who will then probably proceed to fine you 
m4rky:
You need a torch to positively identify a VOSA personIf you can shine it through one ear and see light on the other side you have a genuine one who will then probably proceed to fine you
So a Internet forum used by truckers and no-one can shed any light on this, its always us left in the dark on these stupid rules on if they exist or not.
I think we’d know if we had to carry a working torch, try not to lose sleep over it.
Saaamon:
I think we’d know if we had to carry a working torch, try not to lose sleep over it.
It would be part of the daily checks, MOT and 6 weekly inspections, it isn’t, so don’t listen to tosh. 
No you don’t have to but its a good idea. I always have one, comes in handy for vehicle checks at silly o’clock in the morning.
Heard similar things over the years and on my dCPC course, on the vehicle check section, it was mentioned that if VOSA pulled you and found a fault (ie loose wheel nuts etc) and you said it was fine this morning and it was the middle of winter and you started at 4am but had no torch…
That’s a LOT of ifs and even then I’d just state that my car was facing the truck as it always is with the headlights on or something.
Maybe we should all carry 1 of those massive mag light things for self defense, but my mate told me we’re not aloud to because it’s classed as a weapon I’ll have to make do with my 2lb lump hammer for closing container doors I guess 
chester:
So a Internet forum used by truckers and no-one can shed any light on this, its always us left in the dark on these stupid rules on if they exist or not.
Always left in the dark as i have no torch, cant afford one now ive been fined
this sounds like the story i got told about a driver getting fined for the landing legs not being wound up high enough, some off the things you get told if you believed it all you would certainly need to dye your hair blonde
They want you to carry a torch, so they can see what they are doing when they shaft you 
waynedl:
I’ll have to make do with my 2lb lump hammer for closing container doors I guess
what use is a hammer for seeing in the dark?
oh, i get it now.
Good torch btw…
i got pulled tonight by vosa north bound M6 , no one mentioned a torch to me and i’ve never heard of anyone being asked for one .
of course you need a torch. how else are you supposed to see that your lights are all working at 4.00 am on a dark winters morning. 