4-2-2 dead?

9 December 2008  

Following a period of analysis of the costs and benefits of the MOT?scheme, DfT minister Jim Fitzpatrick has said in a written ministerial statement that a significant number of additional road accidents would be likely if MOT test frequency was reduced.

This is primarily because the annual MOT failure rate is already high (around 35%) and, if we were to reduce test frequency, there is a very real risk that the number of un-roadworthy cars would increase significantly.

In turn, the number of road casualties would inevitably increase. “Clearly”, he says, “any significant increase in road accidents, or in the number of casualties, would be an unacceptable outcome. For that reason, the test frequency should remain unchanged”.