More than two-thirds of UK car owners believe a proposed relaxation of MOT rules would put lives in danger, a new survey suggests. Some 67% of respondents to a poll commissioned by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) opposed extending the time before new cars, motorbikes and vans need their first MOT, due to safety concerns.
A Department for Transport (DfT) consultation on its proposal for new vehicles to require an MOT after four years rather than three closes at 11.45pm today (Wednesday March 22).
More than 300,000 vehicles a year fail their first MOT, which checks a number of parts such as lights, seatbelts, tyres and brakes to ensure they meet legal standards. DfT figures show 26 people were killed in crashes on Britain’s roads in 2021 when vehicle defects were a contributory factor.
