MOT changes could see driving tech regulated as safety fears spark a major crackdown, amid a Department for Transport investigation into whether advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) will leave drivers at risk.
Wales Online reports that the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety has urged the government to include mandatory checks on these sophisticated vehicle features during MOT tests. They argued: “If any of these mandatory safety-critical features are found to be malfunctioning that cannot be fixed on-site during MOT, then the vehicle should fail the MOT”
Additionally, they advised that “In case of the malfunctioning of the voluntarily installed system, the driver/owner should be given a warning to get it fixed as soon as possible.”
A trial scheme is anticipated in order to accumulate relevant data which can provide insight into possible risks and failure rates associated with these systems.
This pilot project will implement checks on key vehicular features such as autonomous emergency braking, steering assistance, and cross-traffic alerts. Last week, Peter Lawton, an expert in aftermarket affairs at the SMMT, shared new revelations regarding MOT testing during his address at the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, reports Birmingham Live.
He stated at the aforementioned event: “The idea that electric vehicles are simpler so you don’t need to have them checked as often – we were able to say that is not the case.”
