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2,000 cars towed from NCT centres
04.05.15
ALMOST 2,000 cars were
towed from NCT centres so far this year after being
deemed too dangerous to drive home.
The latest figures from operator Applus, also show
that more cars failed than passed the NCT between
January and April.
A total of 554,297 tests were carried out in the
first four months of the year on 2007, 2009 and 2011
registered cars as well as cars ten years and older.
Of those tested, 282,082 of vehicles (50.9 per cent)
failed while 270,234 (48.7 per cent) passed. This
continues a trend, first seen in 2011, of more cars
failing than passing the test in a given year.
Of the 277,151 vehicles that subsequently underwent
a re-test from January to April, 252,046 (91 per
cent) passed while 24,755 (8.9 per cent) failed a
second time.
A total of 1,981 vehicles were slapped with
'Failed/Dangerous' stickers and could not be driven
out of the test centre. Some 350 were still deemed
dangerously defective after a re-test.
The AA has previously stated that the
‘Failed/Dangerous’ rate is relatively small in the
context of the high volume of NCTs undertaken, while
it would be worse if dangerous car defects weren’t
being picked up by the test.
Applus had its busiest year on record last year with
more than 1.3 million vehicles tested for
roadworthiness in 2014 - an increase of 173,366
compared to 2013.
Meanwhile, latest figures from the Society of the
Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show that new car sales
were up by 28 per cent between January and April.
SIMI director general Brian Cooke said the strong
growth in retail sales “highlights consumer
confidence around the country with every county
experiencing an increase in sales”. |
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