Time for a WOF upgrade?
Discussion
I was standing in the testing station today and thinking to myself that maybe its time to change the WOF regulations. I mean when you think about it having a “Warrant of Fitness” for your vehicle should be a guarantee that the vehicle is safe to drive and will remain so until its next inspection. At the moment we really get it for no reason at all for a warrant since there is no written guarantee that the service you have paid for will keep you or other road users safe, even if your car crashes due to mechanical failure 5 mins after you leave the testing station.
What do you think? Time for a change to legislation so that we get the service we pay for?
What do you think? Time for a change to legislation so that we get the service we pay for?
Interesting idea, although I wouldn't want anything to reduce the ultimate responsibility and accountability of the driver for the safety of any vehicle they drive.
I know the
frustration of WoF certifiers who fail a car on 4 shot tyres and 1-2 cracked wheels. It turns up 3 hours later on obviously borrowed wheels (sometimes on a spec test-drive from a Mag Warehouse).
They know that the old wheels will be back on within the hour but they have no choice. The car presented to them passes the regulations.
Some of the regs themselves are also a bit of a joke. Apparently CV joints and boots are not critical parts of a car.
Getting value (service) for money is a great idea but too much "Nanny-State" should be avoided at all costs.
I know the
frustration of WoF certifiers who fail a car on 4 shot tyres and 1-2 cracked wheels. It turns up 3 hours later on obviously borrowed wheels (sometimes on a spec test-drive from a Mag Warehouse). They know that the old wheels will be back on within the hour but they have no choice. The car presented to them passes the regulations.
Some of the regs themselves are also a bit of a joke. Apparently CV joints and boots are not critical parts of a car.
Getting value (service) for money is a great idea but too much "Nanny-State" should be avoided at all costs.
Yeah I don't see how they can change it really.
IIRC CV boots joints and boots ARE a part of the WOF.... I got pulled up on the blown boot on my TR once (propshaft CV) and also on the boot on my Mirage a while back.... It never was but I think it is since that guy was killed on the southern motorway when a CV exploded on the truck in front of him.
Remember... if you're ever pulled over by the cops they can do a roadside road-worthiness check... if there's ANYTHING on your vehicle that wouldn't meet WOF spec at the time of stopping you they can pink-sticker you off the road.
Ultimately it's the driver's responsibility.... my cars get weekly health-checks.... which means almost every drive in the Lotus..... granted, not all motorists are as pedantic.
IIRC CV boots joints and boots ARE a part of the WOF.... I got pulled up on the blown boot on my TR once (propshaft CV) and also on the boot on my Mirage a while back.... It never was but I think it is since that guy was killed on the southern motorway when a CV exploded on the truck in front of him.
Remember... if you're ever pulled over by the cops they can do a roadside road-worthiness check... if there's ANYTHING on your vehicle that wouldn't meet WOF spec at the time of stopping you they can pink-sticker you off the road.
Ultimately it's the driver's responsibility.... my cars get weekly health-checks.... which means almost every drive in the Lotus..... granted, not all motorists are as pedantic.
You guys should try the inspection system in the US! About 5 minutes to check to see if your lights, horn and e-brake work, and nothing is obviously falling off. No real test of brakes, none of the thoroughness like WOF here. You can also bribe the inspector (or get a friend who has a license) easy. Things like harnesses, aftermarket seats, roll cages are all overlooked by any inspector.
And many states don't even have that, allowing just about anything on the streets (so long as you can get by the eye of the sleeping over donutted cop!).
I think NZ needs more police on the road that are out looking for such problems (and only worried about clearly excessive speeding). Seems that with the advent of speed cameras that the police just aren't out and visible (at least from my travels). So if a car has no brake lights at all (as I saw recently) its highly unlikely that they would be caught.
And many states don't even have that, allowing just about anything on the streets (so long as you can get by the eye of the sleeping over donutted cop!).
I think NZ needs more police on the road that are out looking for such problems (and only worried about clearly excessive speeding). Seems that with the advent of speed cameras that the police just aren't out and visible (at least from my travels). So if a car has no brake lights at all (as I saw recently) its highly unlikely that they would be caught.
Gassing Station | New Zealand | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff