MOT ‘must be annual’
September 8th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
UK legislators must not scrap the annual MOT test to fall in line with Europe warns a campaign group.
RoadSafe says the DfT is considering scrapping the UK’s annual test, which commences when a car is 3 years old.
This would mean Britain adopt the European way of testing cars – this sees the first test not required until cars are 4 years old, with testing after that occurring every 2 years.
RoadSafe says that doing this would lead to more crashes caused by poorly maintained vehicles.
The DfT has already admitted, back in 2008, that the UK MOT failure rate was high at 35 percent. Since then, it’s actually gone UP, to 37 percent!
That’s why RoadSafe director Adrian Walsh is in determined mood: ‘RoadSafe joins the Tyre Industry Federation, and other campaigners, with a warning to government, that extending the period between MOT tests will put lives at risk.
‘Testers in the UK identify 8.5 million cars with defects every year.
‘In its own review of the MOT in 2008, the DfT said reducing the test’s frequency would significantly increase the number of unroadworthy cars and casualties.
‘An annual MOT is vital for picking up these problems.’
Particularly, added the group, given recent news that average car mileages are actually increasing.
What are your views on the MoT change suggestions?
By Richard Aucock
Tags: aftersales, mot, roadsafe