DVSA to crackdown on MOT system dishonesty and negligence

Five-year strategy sets out 'ambitious plans' to improve road safety

DVSA to crackdown on MOT system dishonesty and negligence
The DVSA has said it will crack-down on serious fraud, dishonesty and negligence and will update the MOT to ensure it keeps up with new vehicle technology.

The DVSA has published its five-year strategy with a suggested warning that it will be placing a greater emphasis on enforcement.

451 MOT testers were warned or disqualified in 2015 to 2016.

In a 72-page strategy document, the DVSA said: “The quality of testing isn’t consistent for every MOT centre and tester, which leads to warnings and disqualifications.

“We’ll continue to increase our focus on serious fraud, dishonesty or negligence in the MOT system, so we’re sure vehicles that pass the MOT are safe to drive.”

Vehicle defects

The agency acknowledged that significant numbers of vehicles fail their initial MOT – 36.8 per cent of cars failed their MOT at first attempt in 2015 to 2016.

Vehicle defects were a contributory factor in 1,832 accidents in 2015.

The DVSA said: “We need to make sure that drivers understand the checks they should be doing all-year-round to make sure their vehicle is safe to drive.”

Many would argue that it’s an argument which contradicts the DVSA’s recent MOT consultation to extend the period before the first MOT test is needed from three to four years.

Recalls

The number of vehicles being recalled for safety defects is increasing – 2.7 million vehicles, parts or accessories affected by a safety recall in 2015 to 2016.

The DVSA said: “Recalling vehicles quickly to get them repaired is vital for safety and public confidence.

“We’ll do more work with manufacturers to reduce the number of defects, and make sure common problems are shared rapidly between manufacturers to protect all road users.”

The strategy also places an emphasis on enhanced MOTs to ensure the latest vehicle technologies are tested.

Testing autonomous technology

With the rise of autonomous technology, the DVSA suggests that the test will adapt to ensure sensors and other new technological developments work correctly and that “vehicles have the latest software updates”.

Road safety minister, Andrew Jones said: “As technology improves, vehicles will become more capable of driving themselves.

“We need to make sure driver training and testing keeps up, and the MOT adapts to be able to test vehicles that rely more and more on software.”

The agency has said it will release detailed plans about how it will measure its success by December, 2017.

Do you feel the DVSA’s strategy to improve road safety contradicts arguments it made in the recent 4-1-1 consultation? Share your comments below.

13 Comments

  1. This is a joke. We have a station in our area that is well known for dodgy mots. Is it shut down? No because it’s run by headbangers and vosa will not go in there unless they have armed police with them, that’s how bad it is and it’s still trading. Vosa just pick on the wee guy and give them a hard time for not doing a test right. No excuse for this but instead off punishing them help them to get it right most off them would welcome this rather than beating them with the big stick.

    Reply
  2. This is a joke. We have a station in our area that is well known for dodgy mots. Is it shut down? No because it’s run by headbangers and vosa will not go in there unless they have armed police with them, that’s how bad it is and it’s still trading. Vosa just pick on the wee guy and give them a hard time for not doing a test right. No excuse for this but instead off punishing them help them to get it right most off them would welcome this rather than beating them with the big stick.

    Reply
  3. Dvsa should be able to shut down stations which are proven to be involved with any fraud without question,as obviously safety is compromised.

    Reply
  4. Dvsa should be able to shut down stations which are proven to be involved with any fraud without question,as obviously safety is compromised.

    Reply
  5. It might be an idea to make all VOSA staff consistant.
    VOSA Have been making mistakes all the time that I have been an mot tester and win awards for for the poor level of service that they give.
    Make sure that dot the I’s and cross the t’s or you wil be on trouble.
    Regards,
    Les, recently retired.
    Good luck.

    Reply
  6. It might be an idea to make all VOSA staff consistant.
    VOSA Have been making mistakes all the time that I have been an mot tester and win awards for for the poor level of service that they give.
    Make sure that dot the I’s and cross the t’s or you wil be on trouble.
    Regards,
    Les, recently retired.
    Good luck.

    Reply
  7. I fail cars with a massive list then get abuse from the customer, check the next day and its a pass with NO advisories Does this not show up somewhere? Alarm bells. The amount of work needed cannot possible be done in an afternoon. In Birmingham there are several places where its a pass for £100. DVSA have got to know these places. On DVSA staff I have met some great ones, others treat you as a means to an end. NOT GOOD.

    Reply
    • we have the same in our area £100 seams about the average price everybody knows these places i have done the same as michael and checked cars that i have failed and you see on the road the next day come on vosa get your cat together if we can figure this out so can you

      Reply
  8. I fail cars with a massive list then get abuse from the customer, check the next day and its a pass with NO advisories Does this not show up somewhere? Alarm bells. The amount of work needed cannot possible be done in an afternoon. In Birmingham there are several places where its a pass for £100. DVSA have got to know these places. On DVSA staff I have met some great ones, others treat you as a means to an end. NOT GOOD.

    Reply
    • we have the same in our area £100 seams about the average price everybody knows these places i have done the same as michael and checked cars that i have failed and you see on the road the next day come on vosa get your cat together if we can figure this out so can you

      Reply
  9. I work in Fleet maintenance and every one of our Mots come back with a pass smoke test with the comment to clean to test. Surely with all the issues regards diesel pollution etc it should be compulsory to issue a copy of the actual test results, same with the Brake test results.

    Reply
  10. I work in Fleet maintenance and every one of our Mots come back with a pass smoke test with the comment to clean to test. Surely with all the issues regards diesel pollution etc it should be compulsory to issue a copy of the actual test results, same with the Brake test results.

    Reply
  11. You can report what you know to dvsa via the intelligence phone line

    Reply

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