Image: DfT
The RAC has warned that relaxing the frequency of MOT tests would see a “dramatic increase” in the number of unroadworthy vehicles, in turn making roads “far less safe”.
On Tuesday (26 April), the cabinet met to discuss ways to ease the impact of the rising cost of living.
According to BBC News, transport secretary Grant Shapps suggested reducing the need for an annual MOT.
The MOT is designed to ensure vehicles are roadworthy, costing approximately £54.85 for a car and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle.
Two cabinet sources told the BBC that Mr Shapps suggested reducing the need for renewal to every two years, rather than one, to cut costs for households.
This has been criticised by the RAC, who has highlighted the potential road safety implications.
Nicholas Lyes, RAC head of policy, said: “The purpose of an MOT is to ensure vehicles meet a basic level of safety for driving on our roads.
“Shifting it from annually to every two years would see a dramatic increase in the number of unroadworthy vehicles and could make our roads far less safe.”
I think that the government would be better employed chasing the companies that supply fuel in all its forms to combat the blatant profiteering that is happening. I can understand why, they are trying to recoup losses from the Covid period, but if they returned to the pre Covid profit margin we would not be looking at sacrificing safety to save pennies.
Its not just fuel, its all the way along the produce chain, a domino effect.
Steve Barber.
Steve Barber, Wellingborough
0
Collisions directly and only caused by defective vehicles, pale into insignificance when compared to those caused by the person behind the wheel whose actions are far more likely to be making the roads ‘far less safe’ and whose safety on the road doesn’t get regularly examined.
Hugh Jones, Cheshire
+1
Context is everything. It seems highly unlikely that saving 50 quid is worth the risk of breakdown or injury. It costs around four thousand a year to run a car based on 10,000 miles ,so 50 quid is a drop in the ocean. Politics ar it’s worst.
Peter Whitfield, Liverpool
+5