Skip to main content

UK government backtracking on biennial vehicle tests plan

The current UK government, which pledged to cut bureaucracy, had set its sights on the annual MOT vehicle inspections. “Cars are more reliable and the annual test has not changed in 50 years,” transport secretary Philip Hammond announced. The plan was for vehicle testing every two years instead of annually.
April 18, 2012 Read time: 1 min
RSSThe current UK government, which pledged to cut bureaucracy, had set its sights on the annual MOT vehicle inspections. “Cars are more reliable and the annual test has not changed in 50 years,” transport secretary Philip Hammond announced. The plan was for vehicle testing every two years instead of annually.

Not surprisingly, the motor industry and motoring organisations disagreed. They say that MOT centres are the backbone of road safety, finding 2,500 cars, every single day, that are dangerous to drive.

Now the UK government appears to be backtracking. Hammond has handed the proposed plan down to Mike Penning MP, parliamentary under secretary. “The policy is at its preliminary stages. No costs have been drawn up. No formal consultation has started,” states Anna McCreadie, spokesperson for the Department for Transport.

Related Content

  • UK government launches new ultra low emission vehicles strategy
    September 5, 2013
    Transport Minister Norman Baker has launched the UK government’s strategy, Driving the future today - a strategy for ultra low emission vehicles in the UK, to drive forward the ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) industry. The new strategy signals a major change in the way vehicles will be powered in the future and reaffirms the government’s commitment to provide new opportunities for the motor industry to help grow the UK economy.
  • IBTTA 2010 meeting focuses on sustainability
    February 2, 2012
    Ken Philmus, chief meeting organiser, talks about what attendees can expect to see at this year's IBTTA annual meeting and exhibition
  • Precise costs and emissions for uphill driving
    August 3, 2012
    Germany-headquartered PTV has announced the new map&guide service pack that significantly improves the calculation of pollutant emissions in road transport. The software now includes altitude data for all European countries so that transport operators have access to precise information on CO2 emissions and other pollutants depending on uphill and downhill gradients. Consequently, the software delivers results that are far more precise and meaningful. Moreover, PTV states that costs (diesel consumption) can
  • Growth of smart parking initiatives
    April 25, 2013
    New initiatives in smart parking have been announced in the US and Europe in recent months. Is the age of smarter parking finally with us? Jon Masters investigates. Smart parking comes to Manchester, reads the headline to a story posted on the UK city’s website towards the end of March this year. Sensors will be fixed to parking spaces to give drivers and authorities information on parking availability via mobile phone apps and other software, the story goes on to explain. Lower down the page, Manchester Ci