Controversial plans to delay MOTs to each two years SCRAPPED

Controversial plans to delay MOTs for vehicles have been scrapped by the Government after drivers and highway security consultants warned it might see 1000’s of automobiles grow to be ‘dying traps on wheels’.

The Department for Transport on Thursday morning confirmed its proposal to make homeowners get MOTs each two years moderately than one – and to delay a automotive’s first MOT from the third 12 months to the fourth – has been ditched.

The contentious initiative spun up by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Transport Secretary Grant Shapps promised to collectively save British motorists £100million a 12 months because the cost-of-living disaster began to chew.

It would have been the largest shake-up of MOTs for many years, however consultants warned it set off extra deaths and accidents on the highway.

Mr Johnson, Mr Shapps and the DfT in April 2022 argued that advances in automobile know-how, comparable to with electrical vehicles and lane-assisted driving, imply the annual MOT, which has been in place since 1960, is not wanted.

They additionally claimed motorists would collectively save hundreds of thousands by paying for a check-up as soon as each two years moderately than one.

A session was launched in January 2023 however prompted main considerations from motoring our bodies that extra vehicles, vans and motorbikes may very well be driving round with brakes and tyres which don’t meet minimal authorized necessities and will subsequently trigger an increase in crashes.

Experts mentioned delaying the annual roadworthiness test would see faults on automobiles build-up over time and doubtlessly grow to be dearer to repair later down the road.

Analysis from the AA means that an annual MOT can doubtlessly save drivers between £200 and £400 as choosing up creating faults every year means drivers aren’t hit with larger restore payments at a later date. 

Ministers have been additionally warned of the financial impression of the choice to delays MOTs, which might have seen 1000’s of garages that depend on income from the annual checks doubtlessly go bust.

Sector representatives mentioned the transfer would have starved Britain’s 23,400 authorized take a look at centres of as much as £123.6million a 12 months.

When confirming it’s retaining current MOT schedules, the DfT this week added it is going to ‘additional examine’ how to make sure the take a look at is match for the long run.

This will embody a probe – with the assist of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (which is liable for MOTs) – into how you can higher monitor diesel automotive emissions to know if extra must be completed to ‘be certain that diesel automobiles adjust to emissions rules’.

The DfT added it is going to additionally proceed to look at the supply of next-generation technological developments that would require an altered MOT, such because the arrival of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, together with self-driving autonomous options. 

Roads Minister Guy Opperman mentioned: ‘We have listened to drivers and business, and holding MOTs of their present kind reveals as soon as once more that we’re on the aspect of motorists.

‘By providing readability on MOT checks, alongside our latest avenue works session and unprecedented £8.3 billion to resurface roads, we’re serving to motorists drive with peace of thoughts and making certain Britain’s roads proceed to be among the most secure on the planet.’

Neil Barlow, head of car coverage at DVSA, added: ‘Ensuring the MOT stays match for the long run is a key a part of DVSA’s work, and preparing for brand new know-how will assist maintain Britain’s roads secure. 

‘We hope this constructive information will present some certainty for garages to allow the funding in new applied sciences that may very well be wanted to maintain the MOT on the forefront of highway security and the surroundings.’

Jakob Pfaudler, CEO on the AA, welcomed the choice to scrap a delay to MOTs, saying 83 per cent of its members polled ‘overwhelmingly supported’ the annual take a look at to be retained to maintain vehicles and highway customers secure.

It was the motoring group that had warned in early 2023 that any determination to increase MOT schedules would see ‘1000’s of automobiles turning into dying traps on wheels’. 

‘With one in 10 vehicles failing their first MOT, we absolutely assist the Government’s pragmatic determination to take care of the primary MOT at three years and yearly thereafter,’ Pfaudler mentioned.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief government representing UK automotive producers, mentioned the choice to retain the present MOT system is ‘the correct one’ and can assist Britain ‘keep its proud report of getting among the world’s most secure roads’.

IAM RoadSmart director of coverage and requirements, Nicholas Lyes, mentioned: ‘An MOT provides drivers confidence their automobile is conforming to minimal roadworthiness requirements, and plenty of see it as a vital technical well being test. 

‘Well-maintained automobiles make our roads safer and scale back the probabilities of collisions attributable to worn-out elements and extra critical defects.

‘We welcome the Government listening to drivers and prioritising each highway security and emissions as a part of this bundle of bulletins.’

RAC head of coverage Simon Williams welcomed the DfT’s assertion as ‘nice information’, describing the proposal to delays MOTs as a ‘madcap concept’ that has duly been ‘consigned to the bin’.

He instructed us: ‘This would have critically compromised highway security and ended up costing drivers extra money moderately than much less because it was alleged to do, because of harmful points going undetected and getting progressively worse. 

‘This is why the thought was so extensively unpopular with the motoring public in our analysis.’

Graham Stapleton, chief government of Halfords mentioned the Government’s MOT proposal ‘would have price lives’ and a call to not go forward must be seen as a ‘victory for highway security’.

Ge added: ‘We are seeing increasingly automobiles come into our garages at MOT with tyres which can be beneath the authorized minimal tread. Far from rowing again on highway security we must be doing all we are able to to encourage and allow motorists to maintain their automobiles in a roadworthy situation.’