Agenda

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To agree any items to be dealt with after the public (including the Press) have been excluded. Thereare no itemswhich officersrecommendshould be dealtwithin thisway, but if confidential minutes from Cabinet and/or the Council’s Committees are being discussed, Officers may recommend consideration in the private part of the meeting.

Proposed by: Councillor Stuart Hughes

Seconded by: Councillor Colin Brown 
Supported by:  Councillors Helen Parr, Brian Bailey, Jenny Brown, John O’Leary and Iain Chubb.

Council notes:

• A recent national news report highlighted a serious incident in which a vehicle struck a pothole, causing damage to the exhaust system. This resulted in dangerous levels of carbon monoxide (CO) entering the vehicle — recorded at 180 parts per million, a level that can cause loss of consciousness and death.
• The occupants survived only because a carbon monoxide detector was fitted inside the vehicle, alerting them in time to stop and exit safely.
• Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, lethal gas, and vehicle occupants have no natural warning when exhaust systems fail or become compromised — whether through pothole damage, corrosion, or manufacturing faults.
• CO detectors are inexpensive, widely available, and already mandatory in many domestic settings due to their proven ability to save lives.

Council believes:

• The rise in pothole?related vehicle damage increases the risk of exhaust leaks and CO ingress, particularly in older vehicles.
• There is currently no requirement for carbon monoxide detection in vehicles, despite the clear and preventable danger.
• A simple, low?cost detector could prevent fatalities and should be considered as essential as smoke alarms in homes.

Council therefore resolves to write to:

• The Secretary of State for Transport,
• The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), and
• The Local Government Association (LGA)

calling for:

1. Carbon monoxide detectors to be made mandatory in all new vehicles sold in the UK.
2. A requirement for CO detectors to be fitted to existing vehicles at the point of MOT, in the same way that other safety?critical items are checked or required.
3. A review of national vehicle safety regulations to ensure that CO detection becomes a standard, life?saving measure across the entire fleet.
4. Engagement with motoring organisations, manufacturers, and safety bodies to develop practical guidance and timelines for implementation.

Council further requests that this Motion be shared with Devon local authorities and Devon MPs, encouraging a coordinated Devon-wide approach to reducing preventable deaths from carbon monoxide exposure in vehicles and supporting wider national consideration of the issue.