Image: RAC
The RAC says any measure to remove unsafe vehicles from UK roads should be welcomed, after it was revealed the DVSA is looking to align the MOT test with vehicle safety recalls.
According to Auto Express, the DVSA is working with the DfT ‘to determine how the MOT system can be adjusted to cover outstanding safety recalls’.
The move is the DVSA’s latest effort to address the 2.39m UK cars that are subject to an outstanding safety recall.
In February 2018, it launched an online recall checker tool but, despite this, an estimated one in 13 cars in the UK is subject to an outstanding recall.
Neil Barlow, the DVSA’s head of vehicle engineering, told Auto Express: “It would make logical sense where appropriate for the MOT to be aligned with the safety recalls system.”
While concerns have been raised about the practical nature of the alignment – and the issue of fairness – it has been backed by the RAC.
Pete Williams, RAC road safety spokesperson, said: “Any measure that could reduce the number of potentially unsafe vehicles on our roads should be welcomed.
“It seems logical to align the MOT test to the safety recall system, but there are some practicalities which the DVSA has identified that need to be addressed to make this possible.
“While most drivers would want any potentially dangerous fault rectified as soon as possible, any process that either flags such outstanding recall issues as a warning to act on or as an MOT advisory is a very positive step for road safety.”
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