MOT-style tests to come to Jersey?

Tuesday 26 July 2016

A five-year scheme to license all commercial vehicles for roadworthiness has started in a bid to improve safety on the Island’s roads.

And a similar scheme for private vehicles as well, along the same lines as the MOT in the UK, could also be on its way.

MOT’s for private vehicles has been backed by the Assistant Minister in the Infrastructure Department, Richard Rondel, as long as the scheme brought in is, “...simple and non-bureaucratic.”

Unlike the UK, where MOTs are required by law, drivers in Jersey are not obliged by mandatory legislation to keep their cars roadworthy. Although that is now changing for commercial vehicles in a five-year scheme. 

That move follows a routine Trinity road check earlier this month which found two vehicles showing excessive tyre wear and two others overloaded, leading to all four commercial vehicles being impounded.

In all, 712 commercial vehicles passed through the one and three-quarter hour checks, 28 of which were examined for possible defects and ten drivers will be attending a parish hall enquiry.

Inspector of Motor Traffic, Gordon Forrest, said: “I am seriously concerned that some drivers are prepared to put themselves and other road users at risk by driving vehicles, either overloaded or with such badly worn tyres, that we have to impound them immediately.”

Mr Forrest said a scheme for commercial vehicles is now being introduced, lasting around five years. 

He said: “We are following the UK and introducing Vehicle Operator Licensing (VOL) which means companies have a legal obligation to check and maintain their vehicles to the correct standard.

“Most commercial operators are very responsible and have their vehicles on the road in good condition, but there are the few who do not, so introducing the VOL is all about improving safety on our roads.”

The VOL scheme for commercial vehicles could trigger a similar approach towards private vehicles - a move which Deputy Rondel says he will back. 

He said: “Essentially safety is of paramount importance and as long as a scheme was brought in for private vehicles which was simple and non-bureaucratic, then I would be in favour of it. 

“I think we have to monitor very closely how the scheme for commercial vehicles goes and if this proves to be a mechanism for ensuring that more vehicles on our roads are in good condition, then that is of great benefit. 

“More discussions will be needed before a similar MOT-type scheme for private vehicles is brought in to Jersey, but if the plans for commercial vehicles works well then I think that would be beneficial. Above all, better safety and care of vehicles is of primary importance.”   

Jersey Motor Trades Federation spokesman Peter Tabb said his members were generally in favour of an MOT-style test on the Island for private vehicles, but said there was “devil in the detail.”

Mr Tabb said: “In principle we are in favour of a form of mandatory testing. The reasons for that have been proven time and time again as too many vehicles are being used when they are unroadworthy. 

“How bureaucratic the process of testing would be and what would be demanded of the participating garages is the concern. 

“One of the problems in Jersey is that there are around 30,000 vehicles over 10 years old and to test all these would probably take four or five years. Also, we only have around a dozen garages on the Island.

“Mandatory testing should come in, but the devil is in the detail and we would have to look very closely at the detail for this to be achieved.”     

The MOT was introduced in the UK in 1960 and there are over 20,000 garages where the test can be taken.