The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is warning people about the “alarming” sales of counterfeit Highway Code books.

The agency warns that the fakes “include incorrect information, which could lead to you failing a theory test, practical test or even committing an offence on the road."

In fact, Mark Winn, the agency’s chief driving examiner, is alarmed by the misinformation in the fakes:

“It puts road users at risk of breaking the law or, even worse, having an accident … These fakes also damage the public’s trust in the Highway Code, which is concerning given the book’s vital role in keeping everyone safe on Britain’s roads.”

The DVSA is also understandably hacked off because the criminals are stealing the agency’s intellectual property (which is very, very valuable – see below).

Spot the difference

The DVSA says that it’s seeing fake books being sold on “popular retail websites”. While it pursues action against illegal sellers, the agency has said that for once, you really can judge a book by its cover.

The fake’s cover has three key ‘differences’:

  • The logos on the front are pixelated
  • The cover has a glossy finish, not matte
  • There’s no ISBN number above the bar code.
For profit

You may be wondering why criminals are bothering with the Highway Code in the first place – it’s only £4.99 after all.

That is until you look at the book’s official sales figures. In April this year, it topped the bestselling books list with 19,000 copies sold a week. Perhaps we shouldn’t be that surprised as there are hundreds of thousands of you learning how to drive each year.

Get real

So how do you ensure that you’re getting your hands on a legit version of the Highway Code?

The RAC Foundation’s Steve Gooding says that you should buy from “a reputable source or use the online version of a book that seemingly never goes out of fashion.”

And remember, the online version is free and can be downloaded here. To guarantee you’re buying a legit physical copy, you can order direct from the book’s publisher The Stationery Office here or the DVSA here.

If you have been unfortunate enough to buy a counterfeited version, contact the DVSA on crowncopyright@dvsa.gov.uk or get in touch with your local trading standards office here.

Always the Real Deal

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