Motoring Views
Read our special reports and features from the world of motoring.
Has two-year MOT plan been driven into the long grass?
19:35, Aug 13 2011
Drive Talking
by Ian Johnson, drivingforce.uk.net
IS the Government's plan to replace the annual MOT test with one every two years losing momentum?
It certainly seems to be.
The idea was seen to be a positive starting point in slashing bureaucracy and was part of a brave new world set out to make life easier and cheaper for the motorist and the Government.
Transport Secretary Philip Hammond announced ‘cars are more reliable and the annual test has not changed in 50 years’, and it appeared to be all system go for the new policy.
But there has been a tide of resistance from certain elements of the motor industry. And they do have a point, viewing MOT centres as the backbone of road safety.
The fact is that every day the MOT Test finds 2,500 cars that are dangerous to drive.
So it is hardly surprising that there is a sense of slowing down by the Government with Hammond handing the matter down to down to Mike Penning, the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Transport.
It's a view that is fuelled by a recent statement from Anna McCreadie, spokesperson for the Department for Transport who said: "The policy is at its preliminary stages. No costs have been drawn up. No formal consultation has started."
A survey of AA members found that 67% oppose the new proposals. They don’t want to share the road with people willing to sacrifice road safety for the price of half a tank of fuel.
Mail Order Company Carparts-direct maintains that steering, suspension and brakes are the major failure items on an MOT. And many of the brake parts the company supplies are for cars under three years old which aren’t even due for the test.
It is of course possible that the policy will be pushed through but I certainly would not put money on it.
