MOT tests

[bartesque]

Just wondering what others think about the need for an MOT style test on the islands

Not as stringent and full of bureaucracy as the UK but a basic safety test on brakes, tyres and lights etc.

Driving around I am surprised by the number of cars with dodgy brake/tail lights

I have just highlighted to a colleague that both of his front tyres are a long way past the legal tread requirements only to met with a casual shrug and the usual speed limit's only 35mph comment

[James19181]

It is scary the number of cars I see with bald tyres or even canvas showing. Never heard of an accident due to it, but not sure if we would? Anyways, would only take one to make the tests worth it

The emissions test portion would probably be a more effective way of reducing CO2 than Ms. Burford's proposals, too

[cibble10]

I think the police should just step up their spot check programme. Maybe if they started issuing fines people would start sorting out their cars?

I wonder whether garages could be prevented from releasing any cars they have worked on if any element is not legal. The tyre point in particular comes to mind.

Like others I suppose I like the idea of people being forced to have an MOT when their cars are obviously in need of one but don't like the idea of paying for an MOT myself for each of my cars cos I know they are kept in pristine condition.

There endeth my early morning rambling....

[darreni]

There should be some requirement to test lights for sure, the amount of cars with rear lights out & one up, one down headlights is staggering.
Cyclists too, the mega lumen led/hid head/bar lights that have just been bolted on are a joke.

[cibble10]

darreni said:

There should be some requirement to test lights for sure, the amount of cars with rear lights out & one up, one down headlights is staggering.
Cyclists too, the mega lumen led/hid head/bar lights that have just been bolted on are a joke.

Wholeheartedly agree. I would suggest one in 30 cars has a dodgy light and 2 out of every three cyclists I see has no lights or one useless light...

[James19181]

cibble10 said:

I think the police should just step up their spot check programme. Maybe if they started issuing fines people would start sorting out their cars?

I wonder whether garages could be prevented from releasing any cars they have worked on if any element is not legal. The tyre point in particular comes to mind.

Like others I suppose I like the idea of people being forced to have an MOT when their cars are obviously in need of one but don't like the idea of paying for an MOT myself for each of my cars cos I know they are kept in pristine condition.

There endeth my early morning rambling....

It would be good if we could have somehing which could be tagged on to servicing, i.e. where the car is servcied any additional checks are carried out and so should be minimal extra cost. Then for spanner monkeys (cheap skates), where the car isn't annualy serviced by a third party, like myself, an annual standalone checkover for say £40-50

[cibble10]

James19181 said:

It would be good if we could have somehing which could be tagged on to servicing, i.e. where the car is servcied any additional checks are carried out and so should be minimal extra cost. Then for spanner monkeys (cheap skates), where the car isn't annualy serviced by a third party, like myself, an annual standalone checkover for say £40-50

Mmmmm, perhaps the compromise is:

After 3 years from new:

1. Given that cars are supposedly checked over (and all those boxes ticked on that long list that comes with your service invoice), when the car is serviced annually a small sticker (or similar) is provided to the car owner to display that confirms their car has had its annual check.

2. For those who don't have their car serviced annually they have to have an MOT and pay £xx for the privilige, and receive their sticker.

Owners who have their cars serviced regularly are not disadvantaged, owners that switch to annual formal servicing get a virtual discount, and those with low mileage cars (or who don't have their cars formally serviced annually) have to have the MOT to prove road worthiness.

[Banzai987R]

I know! Let's emptoy another 100 civil servants to administer an MOT scheme! No wait - lets get a UK analyst to do a study!
Actually... all the civil servants employed to administer the environmental charge who will be twiddling their thumbs when nobody is buying cars anymore can run it...

To get back on topic, I agree with most of what has been said so far. I have always looked after my cars (and suspect anyone on here would be the same) but there is a frighteningly large number of people who just don't bother. It is scary to think they are a couple of hours and a ferry ride away from a big accident .

Actually when you think about it, the new charges will make the situation worse if they are encouraging people to hold on to their old cars....

[cibble10]

Banzai987R said:

I know! Let's emptoy another 100 civil servants to administer an MOT scheme! No wait - lets get a UK analyst to do a study!
Actually... all the civil servants employed to administer the environmental charge who will be twiddling their thumbs when nobody is buying cars anymore can run it...

To get back on topic, I agree with most of what has been said so far. I have always looked after my cars (and suspect anyone on here would be the same) but there is a frighteningly large number of people who just don't bother. It is scary to think they are a couple of hours and a ferry ride away from a big accident .

Actually when you think about it, the new charges will make the situation worse if they are encouraging people to hold on to their old cars....

Yup. The idiots will be putting people off buying safer and more fuel efficient cars, but the very fuel inefficient and dangerously wide buses with chronic emissions will be free for everyone!