Gardaí seized 68 vehicles in Wicklow for not having NCT

GARDAÍ seized a total of 68 vehicles in Wicklow for having no valid NCT certificate last year and drivers have been warned that with the number of frontline gardaí expected to increase this year, more enforcement can be expected. It comes as 11,775 cars failed the NCT in the county last year.

The figures for the county were provided by Justice Minister Helen McEntee, following a parliamentary question by the Social Democrats.

Commenting on the figures, Bray Social Democrats Local Election candidate, Aaron McAllorum said: “First and foremost, this is a road safety and road worthiness issue. In 2023 there was a period in which it had been problematic for people to secure a timely test for their vehicle, the service provider incurred fines as a result. It is vital that all vehicles using public roads are fit for purpose, it is for the protection of all road users that these tests are compulsory.”

In her response, Ms McEntee said: “Road safety is a shared responsibility which this Government takes very seriously. We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities in 2023, and into the early days of the New Year, after many years of progress in making our roads safer.

“Road traffic enforcement is an integral part of the day to day duties of all frontline gardaí – on average 25pc of roads policing enforcement and 75pc of drug/ drink driving checks are carried out by regular members.

“The budgetary provision for the recruitment of 800-1000 new gardaí this year will both increase the number of frontline gardaí and allow for the expansion of specialist units as deemed necessary by the Garda Commissioner.”

The information supplied is from PULSE as of 9 January 2024, and is operational and subject to change. The incidents are from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 inclusive.

Meanwhile, over half of the 1.5 million vehicles given full NCT tests last year failed, according to the National Car Testing Service. Wicklow’s only NCT centre, in Arklow, had a pass rate of just over 57pc – 32,300 cars were tested, with 18,470 successful. Some 11,775 had ‘major fails’ with 2,085 classed as having ‘dangerous fails’.