TyreSafe is joining leading safety organisations over concerns focused on the government’s proposed easing of MoT requirements.

They highlight the potential risks to motorists and all those using Britain’s roads by extending the requirement for a vehicle to be submitted for its first MoT.

Consult revolt

Last week, the Department for Transport (DfT) and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) announced a consultation.

The proposal is to ‘change the date at which the first MOT for new light vehicles is required from 3 to 4 years.’. It comes as vehicle technologies continue to improve, making them more reliable for longer. However, parts that regularly need replacing or adjusting due to wear and tear remain a safety issue.

Meanwhile, the DfT and DVSA do not believe such a proposal would lead to increased casualties. ‘Data shows that most new vehicles pass the first MOT test at 3 years. With the number of casualties in car collisions due to vehicle defects remaining low, government analysis shows the change from 3 to 4 years for the first MOT should not impact road safety.’.

It goes on to explain the first MoT for new vehicles in many European countries is four years.

This move is centred on attempts to reduce household bills in limit of the growing ‘cost of living crisis’. As a cost that affects most households across the country, it means the move grabs positive headlines . It is pointed out that such a move would save around £100m for motorists. However, this is owners of new vehicles, and only around £40.

Check the figures

Annual DfT  Reported Road Casualties GB figures reveal that in 2021 there were 1,759 personal injury collisions recorded. Of these,  491 were because of defective or illegal tyres.

Statistics show that 21 people died as a result of being involved in incidents where vehicle defects were identified as contributing factors. In total, 418 people were killed or seriously injured because of incidents where vehicle defects were identified. Of those, 111 were due to tyres alone.

Another maintenance component essential to road safety which the MoT plays a vital role in detecting is defective brakes. Casualties where brake problems were identified as a contributory factor were the highest for over a decade at 168 killed or seriously injured.

Safety first

Tyres are a unique  and vital vehicle component. They determine how well acceleration, braking and steering inputs from the driver are converted. No other vehicle component has such a broad influence on vehicle control or road safety.

Even with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) that are significantly improving road safety, they all depend on good tyres.

As autonomous functions and abilities of vehicles increase, this will only become an even more important part of the system. It will be essential for the vehicle to take account of the roadworthiness of each of the vehicle’s tyres to activate the right amount of acceleration, braking force or steering.

For example, the distance a vehicle needs to come a halt changes. Not only does the road’s surface condition and temperature come into the equation, but so does air pressure, condition and tread depth of the tyre.

Man and machine

The need for human inspection will be required for the foreseeable future. TyreSafe’s research, along with many other road safety stakeholders, show too many drivers do not regularly check tyre condition. In many instances, the only time tyres are checked is when the vehicle is submitted for its MoT or service.

It is the same when it comes to brakes, steering and suspension wear and tear, all directly affecting the safety of a vehicle on the road.

Four years unchecked, even for a new vehicle, is a long time ad potentially a lot of miles, wear and tear and dangerous damage. With the state of Britain’s potholed roads, unexpected and unrealised damage is a very real issue.

Raising the risks

Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said: “Advances in vehicle and tyre technology makes modern vehicles safer than they ever have been. However, tyres are in constant contact with the road environment and subject to damage on any journey.  They need to be checked regularly and we know too many drivers don’t take tyre maintenance seriously – and, in fact, wait for an MoT failure before replacing unroadworthy tyres.

Over 2 million cars fail their MOT each year with over 1 million MOT failures because of serious defects. All of these failures pose a serious safety risk and we need to do more to ensure vehicles on our roads are safe and legal.

“Clearly, extending the first MoT from three to four years, or indeed making it a requirement every other year, only increases the risk of incidents. The casualty figures prove hundreds of lives are changed each year as a result of incidents involving vehicle defects. We should work to reduce those, not increase the likelihood of creating more.”

You can link to the consultation and have your say here.