MOT Archives - Page 28 of 40 - Tyrepress

MOT

Posts

IAAF Questions Need for MOT test Change

The Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation (IAAF) has added its to the growing number of voices questioning the need to alter MOT frequency requirements. For its part the IAAF has written what it describes as a “strongly worded letter” to Transport Minister Michael Penning expressing surprise at the government’s decision to review the MOT test.The review is scheduled for later in the year. Transport Department whip Earl Atlee told the House of Lords in July “we intend to look at the issue of MOT frequencies later this year.”

8th September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Has the DfT Got an MOT Screw Loose?

Editorial/Comment

MOT tests need tightening up not dumbing down, if the views of respondents to Tyres & Accessories’ August poll are anything to go by. Last month visitors to T&A’s tyrepress.com website were asked if tyre age should be inspected as part of MOT tests. A whopping 89 per cent of respondents said yes.

We asked the question following last month’s editorial on tyre age, which was triggered by the news that Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore wrote to the DfT recommending more attention be paid to tyre age during MOTs (see Tyres & Accessories August 2010, page 3) and in light of the government’s suggestions that MOT intervals should be increased to two years rather than the current annual requirement. However, our poll results would seem to suggest there isn’t much support for either government moves to spread out the time between MOT tests or its reticence to include tyre age in the MOT requirements.

3rd September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

How Will TPMS Change the Tyre Retail Business?

From 2012 European legislation dictates that all new cars will be fitted with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS). With many modern vehicles already being fitted with them and the pressure watching technology due to become mandatory Tyres & Accessories has researched and compiled the latest information on the subject in order to answer the question: how will TPMS change the tyre retail business?

To start off with, there certainly appears to be a need for it. The 2008 Annual Tyre Pressure Review undertaken by Kwik-Fit found just over 46 per cent of cars tested had at least one tyre underinflated. Scaled up to represent the current level of UK registrations, this means that a staggering 12.46 million cars could be running on the roads like this, using £1.5 billion pounds of extra fuel and creating literally thousands of extra tons of carbon emissions. That 30 per cent extra tyre wear also means that an unnecessary 108,000 tyres each year have to be manufactured and disposed of too.

2nd September 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Roadsafe: MOT Must Stay Annual

RoadSafe is urging transport minister Mike Penning, to maintain the MOT test as an annual check-up for vehicles. In 2008, the Department for Transport said the MOT failure rate was high, at 35 per cent. Between 2009 and 10, the failure rate continued its steady increase to 37 per cent. Despite this, the DfT is looking into reducing the required frequency of tests to fall in line with Europe.

In the UK, vehicles must have their first test within three years of registration, and annual tests thereafter. As a minimum, EU law requires vehicles to have their first test when they are four years old and subsequent tests every two years. Most European countries follow the EU minimum requirement and there is pressure on the UK to do the same. RoadSafe is warning that this will lead to more crashes, caused by poorly maintained vehicles.

31st August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

RMI Call For Participation in Online EU MOT Survey

Retail Motor Industry (RMI) MOT chairman John Ball, is urging members, industry colleagues and consumers, to take the opportunity to make their voice heard by participating in an EU MOT survey, which runs from 30 July to 24 September: “This survey is a chance to make clear your view on the importance of the MOT and highlight the potential issues with and reduction in the regularity of testing”.

9th August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Question of the Month: Should Tyre Age Be Inspected in the MOT Test?

August’s Question of the Month on tyrepress.com asks readers whether the recent news that a coroner has written to the DfT recommending more attention be paid to tyre age means that tyre age should be inspected as part of MOT tests. So far, the overwhelming majority seems to think it should, with only one reader suggesting tyre age should stay off the MOT agenda. To lodge your vote, see the Question of the Month box on the tyrepress.com homepage.

9th August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

MOT Rule Change Could Risk Lives

Following the recent news that Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore called on the Department for Transport (DfT) to pay more attention to tyre age during MOT inspections, the NTDA has reported that it has also written to DfT on the subject of statutory testing. While not on the subject of tyre ageing, the NTDA’s letter referred to the fact that some quarters are suggesting that the currently annual mandatory roadworthiness test be made a bi-annual requirement. The DfT’s mailbag is set to get fatter still when Tyre Industry Federation (TIF) are reportedly due to put pen to paper on the subject as well. According to the latest NTDA e-zine email newsletter, the NTDA raised the matter at last month's TIF board meeting. A template is reportedly available for members who wish to make their own views felt on this very safety critical subject.

2nd August 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit Appoints New Fleet Sales Director

Kwik-Fit has named Peter Lambert as its new sales director for Kwik Fit Fleet. Effective 2 August, Lambert replace Mike Wise who has decided to “explore other opportunities.” Reporting directly to Kwik-Fit Group Chief Executive Ian Fraser, the focus of the role will reportedly be to build on Kwik-Fit Fleet’s traditional tyre business through further expanding its Service, MOT and repair sales, reflecting the strategy that has been successfully rolled out within its retail operation.

Peter Lambert has 25 years experience in the UK motor industry and during this time he has held a variety of roles with Ford, Toyota and DaimlerChrysler. At DaimlerChrysler he was sales and marketing director for Mercedes-Benz Vans and managing director of Chrysler UK. More recently he was managing director for Rossetts Commercials, the Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicle dealer for Sussex and Surrey.

30th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Should VOSA Call Time on Old Tyres?

Editorial/Comment

The news that Alan Crickmore, a Gloucestershire coroner has written to the Secretary of State for Transport (Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP) calling for a ban on vehicle tyres that are more than 10 years old lends new support to a cause that has been a topic of discussion within the industry for some time. The case Crickmore referred to was the death of Nazma Shaheen, whose Toyota Lucida was travelling northbound along the M5 when a tyre burst and the car clipped a kerb and rolled over, throwing Mrs Shaheen clear of the vehicle on 6 May 2009. Tyre age was said to have precipitated the accident. What stood out for me the first time I read about this case, apart from the tragic circumstances that initially caused the coroner’s involvement, was the fact that this was the first time that a completely non tyre-related party has publically called for an overhaul of the tyre aging rules.

27th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Announces Open Days to Celebrate Erdington Refurbishment

Following a £170,000 makeover, HiQ is ready to show its Bromford Lane, Erdington centre off to the public. The fast fitter says the Erdington outlet’s fortunes have enjoyed a “huge upturn” since its refurbishment and rebranding and thus between Thursday July 29 and Saturday July 31 it will officially commemorate its new look with a series of safety oriented charity events.

27th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Readies Intrepid Vanners for Asian Charity Road Trip

If Ranulph Fiennes was planning a 10,000 mile road trip across Asia, he probably wouldn’t select a Daihatsu Hijet van as his vehicle of choice. But four students have spurned the Land Rover and other rugged machines trusted by explorers in favour of this Japanese microvan. It’s probably just as well then that they made a last minute visit to a fast fit centre in Plymouth to get everything ship shape.

23rd July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

New Trademaster Brake Testers

The Trade Group has launched the Trademaster T5000 series of Brake Testers; they maintain this provides a step change in technology which, combined with the proven reliability, will deliver significant operational benefits to any MOT station

15th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Coroner Calls for Tyre Aging Law

A coroner from Gloucestershire has re-ignited the tyre aging debate, by calling for a ban on vehicle tyres that are more than 10 years old. Alan Crickmore has reportedly committed to write to the Transport Secretary calling for MOT after hearing how a mother of two died when the 13 year-old tyres fitted to hear car failed, causing a high speed crash.

Nazma Shaheen’s M-registered Toyota Lucida was travelling northbound along the M5 when the tyre burst and veered right and then left onto the hard shoulder. It then clipped a kerb and rolled over, throwing Mrs Shaheen clear of the vehicle on May 6 last year. Recording a verdict of accidental death, the coroner said he did not think she would have died if the tyre had been newer.

13th July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Taunton HiQ Extends Business, Recruits Technician

Fast fit retailer Gary Thomson, owner of Taunton’s Priory Bridge Road HiQ, has invested £15,000 on an extension to his business, also acquiring a highly experienced technician. Thomson invested the five-figure sum on new and improved automotive facilities, merging his store with the adjacent Saab dealership. New recruit Dan Wormer, who started working in the automotive industry in 1972, spending over 35 years working for various Saab dealerships, most recently worked on the site that has become the subject of the merger. Additionally Thomson is employing two additional apprentices, as the centre seeks to capitalise on what it describes as “some excellent trading results”.

2nd July 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Matador-Omskshina JV Marks 15th Anniversary

This year Continental Matador Rubber celebrates the 15th anniversary of the ZAO Matador-Omskshina joint venture project, which is based in Omsk in the Russian Federation. The founders, Slovakia’s Matador and Russia’s Omskshina, each contributed a 50 per cent capital share in order to establish a passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre production facility. The joint-venture was officially registered in the Russian Federation on 17 May 1995.

30th June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors