Government looks to boost MOT standards

Date: 3/2/2012

MOT test standards are to be raised as part of a government evaluation that revealed potentially dangerous car defects are not being detected during examinations.

The Department for Transport has carried out an investigation into the current procedure and in response, a raft of new transparency and value measures have been launched by Transport Secretary Justine Greening.

Data from the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency revealed 27.7 per cent of vehicles tested during 2010-11 were suffering from defects that were either wrongly assessed by MOT testers or not picked up at all.

The Department has elected to keep MOT tests annual and make is easier for customers to give feedback on the companies that examine their cars, as well as encourage the use of codes of practice to raise standards.

"Garages where performance is not up to scratch will find themselves under pressure to do more for their customers," Ms Greening observed, adding motorists need to be " confident that a visit to the garage ends with their car repaired to a high standard."

The move has been welcomed by Chief Executive of road safety charity Brake Julie Townsend, who described annual MOTs as "vital" for road safety.

Posted by Sarah Bailey