THE revisions to the MOT test that are to be introduced in January have drawn criticism from a popular motoring magazine.
Auto Express reports that the revisions, which essentially amount to making sure that the MIL lights go out and that there are no obvious wiring defects amount to a ‘radical shake up’. The article asserts that the changes will leave motorists ‘liable for astronomical bills to repair electronic stability control (ESC) systems from next year’.
However VOSA, the agency responsible for the test insist that it is important to apply the same rules in the UK as across the rest of the EU. “The word we are looking at is ‘harmonisation’” said Andrew Cattell, a standards manager at the agency earlier in the year. “It follows that vehicles used in one country should comply with the same rules as in other EU states”.
Cattell added: “If a dashboard light is on, it means there is something wrong with your vehicle.”
Most items, such as stability warning programs and airbag systems will become testable items regardless of when the vehicle was first registered. However, the rules only apply on TPMS-equipped cars registered after 31st January 2012. “Older cars had an almost ‘experimental’ TPMS system” explained Cattell. “They were not very reliable, and would have been a nightmare to test retrospectively.”
Author of the article, journalist Julie Sinclair said: “It’s about time the MoT got tougher. But repair costs for these important safety features need to come down or we’ll end up with a nation divided by those motorists than can afford to be safe on the road, and those that can’t.”