Is it time for MOTs in Jersey?

[Jason the Maverick]

"Only one vehicle out of nearly 500 that went through a road check in St John has been impounded.

The road check by Jersey's Driver and Vehicle Standards (DVS) department took place on Thursday morning.

Five hundred and forty eight vehicles went through and five drivers were given defect notices and four were told to produce their driving documents.

Only one vehicle, which had defective steering and bodywork, was taken off the road and will probably be scrapped".

 

[en830]

No, MOT's are another way of taxing the motorist with no visible gains.  Road checks are a much more effective way of removing badly maintained vehicles from the roads and in some cases illegal drivers. I personally would welcome more of them despite the obvious hassle it causes.

[Millennium Man]

I reckon we should have MOT's, why wait until somebody is killed in a defective vehicle?

[Jason the Maverick]

People without insurance have always concerned me and the penalties against them are just not tough enough.

I tened to agree with defective vehicles being danagerous and if they are only being picked up at road checks then you have to ask whether that is good enough?

[AHITS]

People without insurance have always concerned me and the penalties against them are just not tough enough.

That situation is a joke over here. Just look in the JEP, it's not uncommon to see someone fined £250 for driving without a license and without insurance. For anyone who hasn't gone to the expense of taking driving lessons and a driving test, and doesn't pay for insurance....but decides they want to drive anyway....that level of fine is an incentive to break the law. 

[danrok]

They have MOTs in the UK, yet you will find far more defective vehicles on their roads. Some have false MOTs, some have no MOT, some have vaild MOTs but are still defective.

A mate brought a vehicle here from the UK with a valid MOT, when he took it to be tested locally, it had to be taken to the scrap yard.

[en830]

I reckon we should have MOT's, why wait until somebody is killed in a defective vehicle?

Why do you think an MOT would make any difference. I had several vehicles in the UK with MOT's which, when inspected, were deemed to be unsafe. The fact that the vehicle has this certificate doesn't mean it is road worthy.

I had friends who had friends who knew a mechanic who could get your car through the MOT regardless of condition.

It's better to have a government agency look out for defective vehicles than the motor trade.

[Hayesann]

I too think MOT'S are needed here in Jersey. I had the misfortune to follow and be followed by a car, that would have failed an MOT. If there had been a need, to break suddenly I would have been injured through no fault of my own. Is that fair?

[Chief Minister]

Its only the poor that cannot afford insurance and a decent set of wheels, they should not be allowed on the road.

[newmac]

Very few garages would be able to carry out mot's on the island, the cost of the equipment and space required would rule out most of the smaller independent garages.

It's not just the less well off that have defective/dangerous cars alot of wealthy people in the Island drive around and own defective cars/vans

[Millennium Man]

I dont think that is a worthy excuse for not having them.

[newmac]

Why,

I don't think it's fair to have another financial burden placed onto people when in reality it won't make any difference, People who drive without a license or insurance are hardly going to worry about driving a vehicle without a mot.

[Millennium Man]

What?  Are you saying you would rather see an innocent person being damaged after a car that is unroad worthy spins out of control and then to top it up the person has no insurance because they cannot afford it?

[danrok]

What?  Are you saying you would rather see an innocent person being damaged after a car that is unroad worthy spins out of control and then to top it up the person has no insurance because they cannot afford it?

When was the last time that happened?

Also, if you are hit by an uninsured driver, you will still be paid all the same out of a special fund which is paid for by everyone who does have insurance.

I think most accidents in Jersey are caused by bad or careless driving, rather than the vehicle. Fortunately most of them are only minor.

[Millennium Man]

Oh so it is safe to drive without insurance then and everybody else pays extra premiums for the people who refuse to pay?