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23/05/2002
Nesbitt defers decision on three-year MOT testing
The Environment Minister Dermot Nesbitt has decided to defer a decision on introducing three-year MOT testing in Northern Ireland.
Public consultation on this road safety initiative to introduce MOT testing at three years in Northern Ireland, instead of the current law of four years, was undertaken by the Department of Environment last year.
MOT testing was first introduced in Northern Ireland in 1975 and initially applied to cars and motorcycles that were at least 10 years old.
Since then the age at which vehicles are first tested has progressively reduced. The current period of four years has applied since 1996. At present around 367,286 MOTs are carried out every year.
Mr Nesbitt said: “I have listened carefully to the messages coming through in the consultation process. I have therefore decided that it would be preferable to defer a decision until further work on the costs and benefits of the proposal can be undertaken.
“After all, the decision which I will eventually take could impact on over 60,000 motorists in Northern Ireland. I believe some further work on the balance between road safety benefits and additional costs would be helpful before a final decision can be made.
“I have therefore asked the DOE’s Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) to carry out this further analysis, to take account of representations received, and to consider the position in Great Britain, where three year testing is normal, before reporting back to me.”
(AMcE)
Public consultation on this road safety initiative to introduce MOT testing at three years in Northern Ireland, instead of the current law of four years, was undertaken by the Department of Environment last year.
MOT testing was first introduced in Northern Ireland in 1975 and initially applied to cars and motorcycles that were at least 10 years old.
Since then the age at which vehicles are first tested has progressively reduced. The current period of four years has applied since 1996. At present around 367,286 MOTs are carried out every year.
Mr Nesbitt said: “I have listened carefully to the messages coming through in the consultation process. I have therefore decided that it would be preferable to defer a decision until further work on the costs and benefits of the proposal can be undertaken.
“After all, the decision which I will eventually take could impact on over 60,000 motorists in Northern Ireland. I believe some further work on the balance between road safety benefits and additional costs would be helpful before a final decision can be made.
“I have therefore asked the DOE’s Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) to carry out this further analysis, to take account of representations received, and to consider the position in Great Britain, where three year testing is normal, before reporting back to me.”
(AMcE)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Gale, coastal severe gale, northwest winds ease from late afternoon. Scattered showers will fall as snow over the hills at first, becoming isolated from mid-afternoon. Maximum temperature 7 °C.Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
