Motoring experts are advocating for a significant change to the MOT test, expressing concern that drivers are often unaware they are driving with unsafe tyres. Verifleet has lent its support to a campaign pushing for stricter enforcement of tyre safety regulations.
The proposed changes would require vehicle owners to attend a mandatory follow-up appointment three months after a defective tyre is identified during an MOT test. Currently, tyre safety is only formally assessed annually during the MOT, and a defective tyre may only result in an advisory note, allowing drivers to legally leave the testing centre. There is no system in place to ensure these tyres are subsequently replaced before the next annual MOT.
Richard Stowe, director of Verifleet, argues that relying solely on drivers to address tyre issues is insufficient. Speaking to Fleet News, he stated that while technology exists to issue reminders after an MOT advisory, the responsibility currently rests entirely with the driver, with potentially fatal consequences. He stressed the need to treat tyre safety with greater seriousness.
Statistics indicate that in 2023, defective tyres were a significant factor in 1,695 fatalities and over 139,000 injuries in UK road accidents. Defective tyres reduce grip, impair steering and braking effectiveness, and increase braking distances, potentially leading to collisions. There is also a heightened risk of blowouts and loss of control with badly deflated tyres.
Jamie Hassall, executive director at PACTS, criticised the current testing system, highlighting the number of MOT failures related to critical safety elements like tyres. He called for a “people-centred approach” to ensure safety-critical defects are addressed earlier, supporting drivers to be safer and allowing police to focus on persistent offenders.
What do you think? Is it a pointless exercise or a worthy cause, let us know in the comments below ⬇️
Source: Express
STEVE
though a good idea in principle i fear it will become another tool for large firms to push sales
Frustrated AE
It’s all very well in theory, but how is the practice going to work?
A mandatory follow up appointment – Where? To be inspected by whom?
If it’s at an VTS – Are we supposed to issue paperwork saying we’ve inspected the vehicle? All that proves is the tyres were legal at the time of inspection!
Price? Motorists won’t want to pay for a mandatory inspection and VTS’s won’t do it for free. NT’s will already be carrying out tests and can’t stop for the old “can you just have a quick look mate?”
Compliance? What resources are going to be allocated towards ensuring that motorists with tyre advisories actually attend the mandatory appointment?
As usual it’s someone in an office somewhere dreaming up ideal world scenarios without having a clue about implementing them.
anthony roe
I agree with you, the culprits will be the Fast Fit centres that do not get involved with the engine work or any technical work, as they are not capable
Nick Smith
I think this misses the mark. If a tyre has a serious defect, it should fail the MOT for it. That is the only way to guarantee a tyre is changed. The most common defect I see is a tyre that is cracking, which is the tyre telling you its failing, and yet because it hasn’t failed, it will pass the MOT.
Also, I’m not sure the stats around fatalities are right, because in 2023, there were 1,624 fatalities and this suggests there were more fatalities and in all cases, tyres were a factor, which can’t be correct.
Andrew MacCreadie
I could suggest that the law on tyre condition and wear is far too lenient. I would suggest that the absolute minimum should be 2mm but across the whole tyre not just 3/4 of the tread and that ANY damage or cracking should be a failure. Tyre manufacturers whose tyres seem to crack in the tread pattern within a year of fitting (you know who they are….) should be made to look at their processes. If tyres were changed more frequently this could in fact benefit the motorist as tyre prices would come down due to manufacture costs reducing over bigger batch processing.