23 August 2000
SAM FOSTER SALUTES FIRST TWENTY FIVE YEARS OF VEHICLE TESTING 'SERVICE'
Vehicle testing (commonly known as MOT) is twenty-five years old this month and how things have changed. Stories abound that back in the seventies attempts were made to repair car underbodies with mahogany and all sorts of other materials to get them through the test!
Minister for the Environment, Mr Sam Foster, MLA, today held a reception in Stormont for ten men who have been testing vehicles since 1975. Included at the reception was some old memorabilia of the first days of car testing.
Mr Foster said: "I would like to pay tribute to the service you have given everyone in Northern Ireland in the past twenty five years. Over six million cars have been tested in that period. I take a very keen interest in road safety and am convinced that vehicle testing plays a very important role in the efforts of our Department to ensure that vehicles using the roads are in a roadworthy condition. Less than 2% of accidents are caused by vehicle defects. Undoubtedly this figure would be higher if the vehicle testing arrangements were not in place."
In endorsing Mr Fosters comments, Brian Watson, Chief Executive of the Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA) said;
"Over the last eight years private car testing has been the responsibility of the DOE's Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency. The main challenge has been to cope with the substantially increased volume of work. We have met this challenge positively and at the same time introduced a range of customer improvements. This includes shorter appointment waiting times, improved staff attitude and compensation for tests, which are cancelled. Most importantly perhaps, we have passed the benefits of efficiencies back to customers. Last year the MOT fee was reduced to £17. This is the same level as it was in December 1994 and it is now much lower than the private car test fee in Ireland or GB."
The age at which cars are tested has steadily reduced from 10 years old in 1975 to 4 years today (in line with EC standards). DVTA now tests around 360,000 private cars each year using the original 15 Test Centres built between 1973 - 1980. The original Centres have been upgraded and in some cases extended. Improved efficiency and longer opening hours have been used to cope with the extra work, an increase of 54% since 1992.
The old memorabilia of the first days of car testing on display in Stormont today is also open to public viewing in the foyer of the DVTA Belfast Centre at Balmoral Road.
NOTES TO EDITORS
- The Driver & Vehicle Testing Agency (DVTA), is an executive Agency within the Department of the Environment. . Its primary aim is to promote road safety by operating fair and efficient systems of testing for both vehicles and drivers. It is responsible for the implementation of Government policies for improving the mechanical standard of vehicles and for improving the effectiveness of its testing operations. The Agency operates from 15 test centres throughout Northern Ireland and 6 Theory test centres.
Agency operates from 15 test centres, two satellite driving test centres and six theory test centres throughout NI. In 1998/99 it carried out 438,022 vehicle tests, 39,661 theory tests and almost 42,000 practical driving tests. There are 2 major developments currently underway which will change the testing arrangements over the next 2-3 years. A major contract for replacement of vehicle test equipment is being negotiated. If this is concluded this year installation of new equipment will begin next year on a phased basis over 2 years. This will improve the objectivity of the test, produce a better working environment for staff and help to reduce appointment-waiting times. The current vehicle test booking arrangements are largely manually based. A procurement exercise for the development of a computerised booking system is underway. This will include a telephone booking facility. The successful bidder will be selected next year and it is planned to begin the new booking service in 2002. For further information please contact Bridgeen Rea, DVTA HQ, Balmoral Road, Belfast. bridgeen.rea@doeni.gov.ukphilip.j.maguire@doeni.gov.uk Mr Foster, Mr Watson and men who have worked at Testing Centres for the last 25 years will be available for media interview between noon and 12.30pm at Parliament Buildings Stormont today. For media coverage please contact Philip Maguire DOE Press Office 02890 540013