Scrapping Annual Car Safety Tests Would Be Disastrous
Imagine a society where no car was checked to make sure it was safe and roadworthy. Where people could leave bald tyres on their cars until they burst, where rust was left to run riot, causing catastrophic mid-corner failures, and where windscreens can get cracked, smeared and otherwise obscured with no one to put the owners in their place until it’s too late.
That’s exactly what the UK government, backed by at least one major daily newspaper, is calling for: the abolition of the annual MOT test. The Ministry of Transport test has been Britain’s standardised annual used car safety check since 1960, covering an ever-increasing number of parts and systems along the way.
It makes sure that a driver can see out of the windscreen properly. It checks that the brake pedal isn’t wired to the reversing lights (I really did see that once), and that the headlights aren’t angled straight into oncoming traffic’s eyes. There are dozens of safety issues that the MOT test covers. Without it, the potential for all sorts of avoidable carnage is limitless.
Surely it’s better to pay the £25-£50ish fee and know that your car is basically safe. We all know that the MOT, and the EU and US equivalents, aren’t foolproof and don’t cover everything, but getting that certificate saying your car is in good health is still a vital – and always satisfying – part of car ownership.
It’s absolutely crucial that we keep the test. It’s the only barrier stopping society’s corner-cutters from stopping paying for essential maintenance. Many of us have mental libraries of anecdotes featuring friends, family, strangers who couldn’t give a monkey’s about stuff like tyres, brakes, lights, windscreen wipers, exhausts, suspension or anything else on a car, and only pay for repairs when they’re essentially forced to.
A friend of my brother’s turned up at his place once, where we were all getting together for a movie and a takeaway. She parked her Peugeot 206 on the drive and came inside. After a while she said to him: “Steve, you know a bit about cars, don’t you? Mine feels really funny, especially in the rain…”
Out he went. From the front door he could already see that both tyres on the closest side were almost flat. Same the other side. All four tyres were different brands and three were totally bald. The car had no MOT certificate because the dopey owner knew neither what it was nor that she was obliged to have one. She was lucky she hadn’t ended up in a wall, or injuring someone else. These people inspire a cold fury in me – and I’m sure the same goes for you.
Remove the annual checks, where those too ignorant or cheap to fix their cars of their own volition are legally forced to comply with roadworthiness standards, and how many dangerous faults will go unfixed? How many accidents waiting to happen will become accidents that have just happened? How many years down the line, and how many lives lost, will we reach before we realise what a ridiculous mistake scrapping the MOT test was?
Comments
Idiots will always find a way to injure themselves, regardless of whatever regulations stand in their way - as the saying goes, you can’t legislate against stupidity.
And anyway, if people such as your Peugeot-driving acquaintance can trundle around sans MOT without attracting attention, it doesn’t appear to be a particularly effective or well-enforced piece of legislation in the first place
“Imagine a society where no car was checked to make sure it was safe and roadworthy.” So imagine living in the USA
I was looking for this comment.
I know Kentucky got rid of vehicle testing when I was a young kid. As far as I know around here you just need working head and tail lights, seatbelts (unless you car is pre 1970), and a windshield
Depends on where you live in the US. For example, Mayrland has a thorough car check much in the same way as MOT
Im from the US so idk much abt what an MOT is could someone explain it
Essentially a safety check, which much of America doesn’t have. It’s basically an annual multi-point inspection that checks for chassis integrity, worn out steering/suspension/brakes/tires etc.
Probably to make way for FH4
Ralph Nader is gonna be pissed
Literally everything you’ve just described is how its been here in Florida for years. Once your car has been imported and titled, it is never inspected again, unless you are trying to change a salvaged or rebuilt title to a clean title. Welcome to Florida.
“Imagine a society where no car was checked to make sure it was safe and roadworthy. Where people could leave bald tyres on their cars until they burst, where rust was left to run riot, causing catastrophic mid-corner failures, and where windscreens can get cracked, smeared and otherwise obscured with no one to put the owners in their place until it’s too late.”
This is called Michigan
Everything out here in Canada is just fine without….
Police can hand out fines and Vehicles Inspections (MOT’s) as they see fit.
You don’t see Canada falling apart…its a great idea.
Should have scrapped it years ago IMO.
The issue we have in the UK is we have so little space for cars with have nearly 38 million cars on the road in the UK in a country that would fit inside some of the lakes in Canada. I find the MOT a pain but i would much rather know my car has basic safety checks done that i cant always do at home. They have cut the policing budget some much in the UK the police barely have enough resources to do their day to day jobs let alone the increase of checking peoples cars if they stop doing MOT’s.
Imo the US system is better. Checks every few years until they’re past 25 years old and then they take pity on your deathtrap and leave you alone.
That. Is. A. HORRIBLE. Idea.
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