Madness to ditch annual MoTs
HAvING spent 40 years in the motor industry, I condemn the Government’s idea of extending the MoT to every other year in a bid to ease the cost of living. The MoT is for the benefit and safety of drivers and the public. The motorist who runs their car on a shoestring will take advantage of this and end up driving around in an unsafe vehicle. Apart from when they reluctantly present it for a MoT, such a driver never has their car serviced or gives it attention. The point of an MoT is to examine a vehicle in order to establish it meets minimum requirements — at the time of the test. Your car could have four tyres that are almost worn out, but it will still pass. After driving a few more miles, you could have four dangerous tyres. A service looks at your car with a different view: that it will remain safe and reliable for the next year. This ensures such elements as the cooling system and engine, not covered by the MoT, are in good order. I had to explain to a customer their car had failed the MoT because it had three bald tyres with the steel cord protruding through the tread. He replied: ‘Ah yes, you told me last year they were getting a bit low!’
PETER TAVENDER, Worthing, W. Sussex.