Should Annual MOT Be Abandoned?

WITHIN the next 10 days a Domestic and Economy Strategy Group could determine whether or not the MOT annual certificate regime should be abandoned in favour of a two-year test scheme as a way Government Ministers could help drivers save money.

Apparently, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has already placed the proposal before Cabinet, explaining Ministers are being informed they need to find ways of "saving people money". MoTs are legally enforceable on virtually all vehicles registered in Britain at least 3 years old.

The head of roads policy at RAC, Nicholas Lyes, has already condemned the concept saying: "The purpose of an MoT is to ensure vehicles meet a basic level of safety for driving on our roads - shifting the test from an annual basis to a two year test would see a dramatic increase in the number of unroadworthy vehicles which could make Ian L Handford

our roads less safe". He is absolutely right, not just because of a time extension but because many of our roads are unsafe due to inadequate repairs resulting in huge quantities of potholes appearing everywhere.