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Change to MOT tests could make cars 'death traps on wheels'

20th January

 

By Joshua Searle

@josh_searle99 SEO Journalist

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The AA has warned cars could become “death traps on wheels” if annual MOT tests are changed to every two years.

Under new plans the time between MOT tests could increase from one year to two years, and from three years for a new car needing its first MOT to four years.

The Department for Transport (DfT) said it has launched a consultation on the proposals, hoping to cut costs for drivers.

The DfT said it wants to “ensure roadworthiness checks continue to balance costs on motorists while ensuring road safety, keeping up with advances in vehicle technology, and tackling vehicle emissions”.

 

Drivers can be fined up to £1,000 for using a vehicle without a valid MOT.

The tests check a number of parts such as lights, seatbelts, tyres and brakes to ensure they meet legal standards.

The DfT said MOTs cost an average of £40 and delaying the first test for new vehicles could save motorists around £100 million a year.

 

It said “major developments in vehicle technology” have increased road safety since MOTs were introduced in 1960, such as lane-assisted driving.

However, Edmund King, president of the AA, said the organisation was “totally opposed” to the changes, also telling This is Money the change would see “an increase of death traps on wheels on the road”.

He said: “The MOT plays a vital role in ensuring that vehicles on our roads are safe and well maintained, and while not a formal recommendation, we totally oppose any change from an annual MOT.

“Last year, 83% of drivers said that the annual MOT was ‘very important’ for keeping our cars and roads as safe as possible, which highlights why an annual MOT must remain in place.

“With one in 10 cars failing their first MOT, we strongly discourage the Government from extending a car’s first MOT to the fourth anniversary due to road safety concerns.”

The RAC’s head of roads policy Nicholas Lyes said: “While we’re not opposed to delaying a new vehicle’s first MOT, we believe there should be a requirement for particularly high mileage vehicles to be tested sooner.

“If the Government is looking to improve the MOT, now is the ideal time to take into account how much a vehicle is driven alongside the number of years it’s been on the road.

“We’re also disappointed the Government is still entertaining the idea of increasing the time between MOTs.

“Our research clearly shows drivers don’t agree with this and believe it’s dangerous.”

 

COMMENTS:-

 

MetalBoots . 20th January 9:18 am

 

User ID: 4284414

The mighty AA has spoken ,so the Govt will listen Just have another think why the AA dont want this to happen losing anywhere from £128-400 for doing you a Yearly 'inspection' thats why(if you opt for one etc)

Last Updated: 20th January 12:47 pm

 

 

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Ritchie6 20th January 9:33 am

 

User ID: 395313

We are getting mixed messages here. The AA is flagging up the dangers of cars being tested every 2 years but classic cars which are 40 years old are exempt from needed an MOT at all and it's left to the owner's discretion. My car is 3 years old this July and will require it's first MOT which it will pass with ease but an old banger can be left uninspected.

Last Updated: 20th January 4:41 pm

 

 

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[Deleted] 20th January 9:39 am

 

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[Deleted] 20th January 10:11 am

 

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Last Updated: 20th January 10:22 am

 

 

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Gob smacked 20th January 9:39 am

 

User ID: 1557412

Classic and historic vehicles cover far less mileage than normal vehicles. also they are given a lot of attention. They can be submitted for a test too. Its just not compulsory and they are far from being called /classed as 'bangers'.

Last Updated: 20th January 2:49 pm

 

 

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MetalBoots . 20th January 10:15 am

 

User ID: 4284414

Go down Alquin Ave and have a Look at a Maroon and Black 2CV from around 1952 he drives about everywhere with smelly smoke belching out and petrol leaks etc so there must be some of the se old cars that need looking at

Last Updated: 20th January 4:36 pm

 

 

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Yorkie biscuit 20th January 9:40 am

 

User ID: 2437424

A lot can happen in a year. Will they make changes to advisories? They're given on the basis of an MOT every year, but by the time 2 years are up that advisory might have changed to urgent. I don't think this is where they should be trying to save people money. Safety is more important.

Last Updated: 20th January 5:05 pm

 

 

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[Deleted] 20th January 10:21 am

 

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Last Updated: 20th January 2:04 pm

 

 

The_light 🔥 20th January 9:39 pm

 

User ID: 344692

A lot of people think an MOT is a certificate of a roadworthy vehicle - it's not. The MOT simply means a vehicle has met or meets a minimum safety standard at the time the test was carried out, a week later a component could fail and the vehicle becomes unsafe. Vehicles that are except from having an MOT could also be unsafe, as could a brand new one. It's the responsibility of the driver to do checks often on a vehicle (as far as reasonably can be expected) to ensure its safe to drive and be on the road, any doubts take to a garage to look at. Personally l think private use cars up to 10 years old can be tested every 2 years after the first three year test from new, after which they should then revert to every 12 months. Cars used for business purposes and all commercial vehicles - vans, trucks and such - should remain 12 months.

 

https://www.clactonandfrintongazette.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/23263936.change-mot-tests-make-cars-death-traps-wheels/

[Spiny Norman]

Keep up at the back...

https://autoshite.com/topic/52468-govt-proposals-for-mot-changes/page/2/?tab=comments#comment-2688069

[sheffcortinacentre]

Since when do the AA do yearly inspection 's & at at that price??

[sierraman]

I had an AA inspection once when one of mine broke down at the Morrison’s at Catcliffe. The patrol man looked round it and told me it looked fucked and I should get another. 

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

This phrase always me gasp in surprise:

'It said “major developments in vehicle technology” have increased road safety since MOTs were introduced in 1960, such as lane-assisted driving.'

I've had one vehicle with this fitted and that fucker tried to swerve me into a concrete barrier at 40 whilst going through a roadworks filter. I had to turn the bastad off every single time I ran the car thereafter.

Not a safety feature.

[Twiggy]

If the government is serious about saving the motorist money, then the simplest way of doing it would be to reduce the level of duty on fuel.

[MiniMinorMk3]

Smoke and Mirrors, Smoke and Mirrors.

[rainagain]

3 hours ago, Crispian_J_Hotson said:

This phrase always me gasp in surprise:

'It said “major developments in vehicle technology” have increased road safety since MOTs were introduced in 1960, such as lane-assisted driving.'

I've had one vehicle with this fitted and that fucker tried to swerve me into a concrete barrier at 40 whilst going through a roadworks filter. I had to turn the bastad off every single time I ran the car thereafter.

Not a safety feature.

I had a Skoda hire car with this, it was fucking lethal. I had to read the hand book to find out how to turn it off. Even the hand book said it should only be used on a motorway. It turned it self back on every time the car was started, it took four presses/menus through the touch screen to turn it off. I can easily imagine less tech savvy folk just leaving it on and having to deal with a car trying to swerve you into a hedge every time there was some mud on the white lines. 

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

That distancing auto brake as well, I pulled into a busy roundabout and the thing hit the anchors... jesus. I've had a look and you cannot turn it permanently off on the 2019 Mercedes A200.

A little thread on a similar encounter, if anyone is bored

https://www.aclassclub.co.uk/threads/scary-journey.15979/

[somewhatfoolish]

22 hours ago, Crispian_J_Hotson said:

That distancing auto brake as well, I pulled into a busy roundabout and the thing hit the anchors... jesus. I've had a look and you cannot turn it permanently off on the 2019 Mercedes A200.

A little thread on a similar encounter, if anyone is bored

https://www.aclassclub.co.uk/threads/scary-journey.15979/

What a load of bollocks; autobrake is a waste of time until you're doing over 50 or so anyway. New cars can get in the sea.

[juular]

I had a close call driving in Edinburgh last week. Was following a Tesla onto an empty roundabout when it did a full on emergency stop in the middle. There was nothing in the way and the driver looked as confused as everyone else was. It looked like he had to switch off and restart (reboot?) it.

At least I was in the 240 so not only could I stop in plenty of time, if I hadn't I'd simply have squashed the Tesla and kept going.

[Crispian_J_Hotson]

Yeah, that was pretty much it. Must have had a fly go past the sensor or something stoopid like that, that the designers never thought about.

[Metal Guru]

2 hours ago, Crispian_J_Hotson said:

Yeah, that was pretty much it. Must have had a fly go past the sensor or something stoopid like that, that the designers never thought about.

Plenty of people will stop dead at roundabouts even if they can see it’s obviously clear.