Winter is here, the festive season has approached, many of us have planned to meet our friends and family for holidays. We are all ready and packed up, making sure all festive preparations are being done and nothing is left to be sorted at the last minute. One important thing that we need to keep a check on is our cars!
Yes, because it is the only thing that will help us commute to our loved ones during this time. Our vehicle needs to be fully prepared and be roadworthy enough to roll during this winter season.
In order to make sure that your car is collectively safe and sound to be driven around London and nearby areas you can see if it is MOT proof or not. The following details will brief you with some significant MOT details you should know…
The MOT test was introduced in 1960 in an attempt to reduce the growing number of road deaths and accidents that were the result of increasing traffic in the UK. This was caused by the boom in car sales, as families invested in first time vehicles and even became two-car families.
Why do we have MOT tests?
MOTs were deemed necessary as a lot of the road accidents were caused by cars being unroadworthy. This means that they produced a lot of emissions that obscured visibility, did not have the correct lights fitted, or they had faulty steering and brakes, which made them unpredictable in an emergency.
The government’s aim was to ensure that vehicles on the road had a good chance of being seen and avoided by other road users, and also that they would be steerable, so they could move to the shoulder of the road and stop safely, even while experiencing engine trouble.
How can I pass my MOT?
You can take steps to sail through your MOT by being aware of the reasons for the MOT test, as detailed above, and by getting hold of a copy of the latest MOT checklist, which is freely available online.
Using the checklist, you can assess the state of your vehicle and ascertain which items you can take care of yourself (such as keeping the windows clear and visibility good), or which minor faults you can sort easily (fitting new light bulbs when necessary, or ensuring that your number plate is tightly fixed). You can also book an MOT in conjunction with a service to ensure that any faults are fixed before the MOT is attempted. In case you’re looking for a reliable garage visit DAT Tyres for MOT in London today.
What happens if I fail my MOT?
With MOTs there are stages. The best case scenario is a pass, in which case your car has no faults and is good to go for another year. Next come ‘minor faults’, which must be sorted out as soon as possible, but are not serious enough to keep your vehicle off the road. Major faults are serious and these must be fixed before you are permitted to drive the car. The highest level is ‘dangerous’ and these are the same as major faults; you may not drive the vehicle if you have dangerous faults with the car. If you have taken an early MOT and your previous certificate is still valid, you can continue to drive with major faults, but not with dangerous faults. However, driving with major faults is very unwise and should not be attempted without very good reason.
Hence having a proper MOT check on time is important so that you are able to avoid sudden car problems and heavy fines by the traffic authorities while driving and achieve a pleasant drive with your family.
Feature image credit: Darwin Vegher / Unsplash
