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37,000 ‘dangerous’ cars detected
by NCT
28.01.19
MORE than 37,000 cars
that underwent the NCT last year were deemed unsafe
for the road, new figures show.
The just-released data shows that a total of 37,191
(2.8%) vehicles presented for the test posed a
“direct or immediate risk to road safety”.
This compares to just over 5,000 the previous year.
The hugely inflated figure cannot, however, be
compared to previous years, because a greater number
of defects now classify as dangerous under new EU
rules introduced last summer. These include
defective tyres and brakes.
The new directive also, for the first time,
categorises defects under three headings minor,
major and dangerous.
It is illegal to drive a vehicle with a dangerous
defect and motorists may incur penalty points and a
court appearance if caught by An Garda Síochána, NCT
operator Applus has warned. |
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The NCT centre in Carndonagh. |
Meanwhile, 1,343,794
vehicles went through test centres countrywide
between January and December 2018.
A total of 661,743 (49.2%) passed with 644,860 (48%)
failing the test.
This is the first time since 2012 that more cars
passed than failed.
Last year’s results also show that 680,764 vehicles
underwent a re-test with 624,679 (91.8%) passing the
second time around.
Some 54,418 (8%) failed again while 1,667 (0.2%)
vehicles were still too dangerous to drive out of
the test centre.
Cars tested last year were 2014, 2012, 2010, 2008
and older models.
A Road Safety Authority spokesperson said:
“Following the new EU Directive 2014/45/EU, since 13
August 2018, there are a greater number of defects
now classified as fail dangerous, for example
defective tyres and brake issues. Therefore, these
figures cannot be compared to previous years. You
are simply not comparing like with like.”
In response to the positive reversal of the
pass/fail rate for the first time in six years, the
spokesperson said the average age of the domestic
fleet is now under eight years old compared to 2012
when recession-hit families were presenting fewer
and older cars for testing.
Some fail dangerous defects: |
- Tyre tread
depth less than 1.6mm in central three-quarters.
- Tyre regrooving
that damages protection layer.
- All stop lights
not functioning.
- Brakes 50%
under minimum requirement.
- No brake fluid.
- Driver's
backrest not fixable.
- Risk of
steering wheel detachment.
- Excessive fumes
inside car from defective exhaust.
- Fire risk due
to leaking fuel tank.
- Dashboard
warning on airbag.
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