The Transport Committee is worried that large haulage firms may be getting away with using unsafe vehicles on the UK's roads.

In its latest report, the organisation suggested the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) might be focussing too many of its resources on targeting smaller fleets that are non-compliant.

VOSA has undergone a number of changes in recent months and plans are in place to merge the regulator with the Driving Standards Agency in 2014.

However, the Transport Committee thinks some of the reforms could be having an adverse impact on road safety. It is particularly worried about the number of privately-owned authorised testing facilities (ATFs) being used by the body.

Chair of the committee Louise Ellman thinks VOSA could jeopardise its own high standards by introducing too many ATFs at once.

"VOSA should also bear in mind that a testing market that rests exclusively on ATFs may not be in the best interests of business generally and the small operator in particular," she remarked.