Vehicle testing.

In Northern Ireland, the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) conducts all vehicle testing (Classes 1 – 7). They have collected lots of data on the impact of the introduction of new test items resulting from the Testing Directive, which has had some useful early insight for everyone else.

Northern Irish data showed the overall test failure rate for all vehicles went up by around 1.2%. Nearly half these failures (44%) were attributed to secondary restraint systems (SRS).  Few trucks and buses are fitted with SRS yet so VOSA can expect to see a lower overall increase in failures than 1.2%.

The second biggest new failure item is dust covers and gaiters at 28%. So vehicle presenters would be well-advised to double check that vehicle dust covers and gaiters are intact before test to prevent obvious but avoidable failures.

Visit www.vosa.gov.uk/vehicle-testing-manuals-and-guides for copies of the 2012 inspection manuals.