Further responses to government MOT changes from Which?, IAAF

Following news that Transport Secretary Philip Hammond supports a change in MOT frequency, independent consumer body Which? has weighed into the debate, along with further lobbying efforts from IAAF. Philip Hammond MP’s view is that newer cars are a lot safer than when MOT were introduced 50 years ago. For its part Which? says “the financial savings for drivers won’t be great, and the safety implications overweigh the slight reduction in annual motoring costs.”

Furthermore, countering the economic arguments, Which? reported that it believes “the extension of time between MoT tests will have serious safety implications, and will mean more unroadworthy cars on UK roads than ever before.”

David Evans, Senior Motoring Research at Which?, wrote: “Increasing the period between MoTs is unwise and will, in my view, lead to poorer safety on UK roads. We know from our research that many owners neglect their cars as it is. For example, fewer than half those questioned in our last tyre survey knew the legal minimum tread depth, and more than a quarter relied on the garage to check tyre condition and tread depth at the annual MoT and service. And there are also many less visible parts of the car that could go unchecked.”

AA president Edmund King brought the issue right home to the tyre industry: “Even if you have a new car that is three years old, it can still have bald tyres and failing lights”

If testing frequency is halved, what will this mean for garages?

Nevertheless, if the plans do go ahead, some independent garages could go out of business which has understandably raised the hackles of the IAAF. In response to the reports IAAF Members have upped lobbying efforts and are said to be contacting their MPs in an effort to convince ministers at the Department for Transport of their folly.

Brian Spratt CEO for the IAAF commented: “The announcement was itself a surprise as DfT officials had, on Tuesday of last week, advised that no announcements would be made until after the elections on 5 May, as the active campaigning put the government ‘in purdah’ for policy announcements. We need IAAF members to voice their opposition now.

 “In 2008 the last (Labour) government made an extensive review of MoT frequency and concluded that the increase in road deaths and casualties which would ensue from moving from the current 3-1-1 regime to the proposed 4-2-2 option was unacceptable. The DfT and outside experts made the decision following consultation and research; research, which was, itself, quality checked by the Cabinet Office.

“This latest announcement includes reference to research carried out by the Transport Road Laboratory (TRL) which was hurriedly completed and has not been subject to any quality review. The TRL researchers also point out that their brief was very specific and limited and that there are areas of enquiry that have not been researched and data used which has not been validated.”

Brian Spratt concluded: “Nevertheless their conclusions are that the changes would lead to around 30 additional deaths each year, and yet the Secretary of State feels it gives enough justification for the current system to be discarded! We’ve provided IAAF members with a template letter to send to their MPs and information on how to identify who their MP is. We need every MP in the land to receive a letter, so that they can show the DfT quite how dangerous the proposals are and quite how much disquiet is felt around the country.”

Related news:

• Transport secretary hinting at MOT changes, associations hit back

• Transport Minister & Winter Tyres: “A Complete Lack of Understanding”

• Has the DfT Got an MOT Screw Loose?