Publication: ph03102012

by Colin Patterson

Despite backing from the Automobile Association, many in the motor industry say the government’s proposal to reduce the frequency of warrant of fitness inspections will harm road safety.

The proposals were announced last month by associate Transport Minister Simon Bridges, who says the current system has not kept up with changes in vehicle technology and is out of step with most comparable countries.

"The current systems have been in place for decades and affect every vehicle owner and driver. So we need to be sure the rationale for all of these are still clear and justified."

Mr Bridges says reform has the potential to save millions of dollars in unnecessary costs and time for households, businesses and the Government.

"In relation to the warrant of fitness system, for example, New Zealand’s vehicle frequency is higher than most other OECD countries. Around $245 million each year is paid in inspection fees and the time spent getting a WoF is estimated as worth $100 million, but it is unclear whether this results in fewer crashes caused by vehicle faults."

Automobile Association spokesman Mark Stockdale welcomes the proposed changes.

"We need to have a system that ensures vehicles are safe, but if safety can be maintained or improved with reduced time and cost for motorists then that would be a welcome result," says Mr Stockdale.

"New Zealand is the only country in the world that requires most vehicles to undergo a safety inspection every six months. Most countries only require an inspection once a year or every two years, and in many Australian and US states, there is no regular inspection at all," Mr Stockdale says.

"It’s been decades since these systems were given a major review and in this time vehicle quality, reliability and safety have all improved enormously."

However, the Motor Trade Association has urged the Government to be cautious.

"In recent years, New Zealand has made great strides towards better road safety," says spokesman Ian Stronach. "International studies have shown that vehicle inspection is an important tool in improving road safety. Care now needs to be taken to ensure that this progress is not reversed through the introduction of changes that may carry considerable risk."

Ross Lake from Lake Auto Services in Petone says the proposed changes "are not a good idea". He says his opposition is not because of a loss of work or income. "I think we will gain work with more breakdowns and issues with tyres."

Mr Lake says customers are happy with the current system and they don’t see any need for change. Moving to less regular inspections will require standards to be toughened. "If a vehicle that has disc pads and tyres that are close to limit, we might pass them now and let the owner know they might have to be replaced in due course. We leave up to them. But if it’s 12 months we might have to fail it. We’ll also have to be a lot tougher on rust if it’s got to last 12 months instead of six."

Tony Brown from Plimmerton Auto Services says he can’t see the need to change the current system. "It won’t achieve anything except make our roads less safe."

Mr Brown says his team identify many faults that develop within the current six-month gap between inspections. "I’ve seen new cars with threadbare tyres and the owners are oblivious to them. I’ve seen young people driving around with their tyres down to the steel.

Mr Brown says the current policing of warrants is "pathetic". "Changing the rules won’t make it any better. Even now we can’t keep unsafe vehicles off the road."