Are you one of the 40% who fail their MOT?

Nothing can be more frustrating than when your vehicle fails. There is never a convenient time for it to happen whether shopping, school pick up, or on holiday. It is aggravating and it can be financially stretching. But according to the DVSA, around 40% of cars fail their MOT at the first attempt, increasing our chances of breakdowns or accidents. None of us like failing, so is it avoidable or do we just have to accept that cars sometimes fail?

What do cars commonly fail on?

MOT can either be categorised as a pass, a pass with advisories, minor defects, or a fail with a major or dangerous defect. A ‘Major Defect’ is where a vehicle presents with a serious issue but is not immediately classified as dangerous. It will not pass its MOT until the situation is rectified and a re-test taken. Dangerous defects lead to an automatic failure with the added issue of the vehicle not being deemed safe to drive on the public road. In this case, it would need to be recovered or repaired on-site.

Some areas covered as part of the MOT are easy to see such as headlamps not working or visible warning lights on the dashboard. If you want to avoid a second test, you are better to rectify these before taking your vehicle to the test centre. However, some defects need the car to be raised such as suspension and wiring. An MOT is a visual inspection and a tester is not allowed to remove anything to inspect it fully. This would be undertaken in the car’s regular servicing routine.

By Melanie Wooding Jones Redbourn Auto Solutions, caring for you and your car

The table on the next page shows those defects that have failed in order of failure rate. These are the top 7 categories, out of the possible 14 areas that are monitored. The figures are taken from government statistics for the period October –December 2022.

Although these have been listed in order of failure rate and all present serious issues, one of the most alarming statistics here is related to Tyres and Brakes which didn’t just fail but failed because they were dangerous.

For 60% of failures to be attributed to dangerous tyres and 29% to brakes, means that those dangerous vehicles could have been on the road for quite a while before they were tested. For instance, a tyre at 1.6mm will pass the MOT, but it is 94% worn. Brakes have a minimum thickness of 1.5mm which is 93% worn. In either case, this depth already affects the stopping distance dramatically and it won’t be long before they are considered dangerous. In the meantime, they will be reported as advisories.

An MOT ensures the vehicle is roadworthy on the day of testing, not that it will be roadworthy until the next test. In a naive way, the DVLA work on the basis that every car is regularly serviced and therefore all defects are picked up when they need to be, by the consumer regularly servicing their vehicle. A 40% failure rate would indicate that this is just not the case.

You would not be on your own thinking an MOT would certify your vehicle as safe and roadworthy until the next MOT.

However, Gov.uk set out the legal obligations of drivers as:

Before you drive, your vehicle must:

• Be registered with the DVLA

• Have up-to-date vehicle tax

• Have a current MOT certificate (where needed)

• Be roadworthy

• Have a minimum of 3rd party insurance.

The critical term here relates to the roadworthiness of the car and Gov.uk makes it clear what their expectations are:

“You’re responsible for making sure your vehicle is always safe to drive (roadworthy). It can be unsafe even if you have a current MOT certificate. You can be fined up to £2,500, be banned from driving and get three penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Every time you drive you should check:

• The windscreen, windows and mirrors are clean

• All lights work

• The brakes work

You are expected to maintain your car according to its handbook and check the following as often as it tells you to:

• Engine oil

• The water level in the radiator or expansion tank

• Brake fluid level

• Battery

• Windscreen and rear window washer bottles – top up with windscreen washer fluid if necessary

• Tyres – they must have the correct tread depth and be free of cuts and defects.

The handbook will also tell you when your vehicle needs to be serviced.”

They also outline expectations about tyre tread: “Tread must be a certain depth depending on the type of vehicle. Cars, light vans and light trailers – 1.6 millimetres (mm). There must be tread across the middle three quarters and around the entire tyre.”

So, the expectations are clear: We are responsible for the roadworthiness of our own vehicles and the penalties are high if we get it wrong.

How do you ensure your car is roadworthy?

Some drivers are brilliantly talented and can conduct their maintenance. And for those who wish to give it a go, the extensive MOT Inspection Manual may prove useful… it is also a good read for those who suffer from insomnia!

However, most of us need a little more help and prefer to engage the services of a trusted garage to conduct an annual service to the manufacturer’s schedule. If the car has had a good service from a qualified technician, then it should sail through its MOT.

It can be all too tempting to miss the service, especially in a tough financial climate, but this can lead to unnecessary breakdowns and high repair costs, which equally we want to avoid. It can also be tempting to ignore MOT Advisories. They won’t get any better (or cheaper) if left, but at least it gives you the ability to plan the repair work.

There are numerous examples of breakdowns or accidents that were avoidable if advisories had not been ignored. From motorway tyre blowouts to engine failures and everything in between. The stress it causes, the health implications, and the potential

£2,500 and three penalty points are enough to put anyone off a repeat situation.

Not only is an MOT failure avoidable but so are the accidents that could happen as a direct result of an unroadworthy vehicle.

As with anything with moving parts, they are prone to wear and tear and therefore need regular attention to ensure they continue to work properly and retain an optimum working condition. Make sure you are checking your car regularly, and if you’d rather someone else completes it, get it booked in! It’s not just to help you avoid unnecessary accidents and costs, you’ll be helping the environment.

Our highly competent technicians are on hand to deal with any of your MOT failures and, if you’ve had an MOT completed with us, we will endeavour to carry any rectification needed on the same day.

at Heathfield Centre on Sunday the 23rd of April

Visitors started arriving at 11 o’clock and they were able to enjoy a variety of performers singing and dancing and entertaining in the hall. There was a marquee with local crafters selling their artworks; classic bikes were there and there were activities for the children; a grand tombola and facepainting and other stalls in the foyer. The WI were very busy in the kitchen selling bacon rolls, cakes, etc and tea and coffee etc. Many thanks to the committee and all the helpers and people who donated to this annual event. We have been able to donate £700 for Riding for the Disabled charity.

Author and founder of Pause Global Danielle North will be joining Walk Works on their River & Woodland loop from Shiplake on 26th May and will offer a guided meditation from her new book ”Walking Meditations”.

Sunrise & Sunset Walks: Enjoy the dawn chorus with an early-morning Skylark Walk on 25th May or watch the sun setting over the beautiful Bradenham Valley on a Bradenham Woods Sunset Walk on 24th May. Join the friendly Salaam Seekers (a Muslim Women’s Outdoor Activities Group) for a Mindful Maharani Meander in Stoke Row on 25th May, and finish with a complimentary drink and cake in the local cafe. Half-term family walks, including South Stoke River & Picnic walk on 2nd June and nature-spotting activities …plus historic garden tours, film location tours, mindfulness walks, Nordic walking and much more. For details of all these walks visit our website www. chilternsaonb.org/walkingfest

The Big Help Out National day of volunteering took place on Monday May 8th, two days after the King’s Coronation. Seen in the photos below, volunteers dug out weeds from the giant white chalk lion on the Dunstable Downs. This famous landmark is under the care of Whipsnade Zoo. So next time you drive past, or walk on the downs, see how much ‘whiter’ it looks. The job is not yet complete so if you can help, get in touch with the zoo.

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