February 1, 2012
Government retains MOT test regime and backs codes of practice
Government retains MOT test regime and backs codes of practice
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has welcomed government’s announcement that it will retain the existing frequency of the MOT test and encourage garages to subscribe to industry codes of practice. The decision ensures that road safety, consistency of service, quality assurance and consumer confidence in the automotive service and repair industry will be maintained and enhanced.
The key outcomes of the review include:
- Retaining the existing test frequency.
- Working with industry codes of practice to raise standards.
- Tightening regulation in the second-hand vehicle market.
“Industry welcomes the decision by government to retain the existing MOT test regime, supporting the need to keep road safety a top priority,” said Paul Everitt, SMMT Chief Executive. “Government will encourage garages to take up industry codes of practice to ensure a consistent and high quality approach to testing, thereby building consumer confidence and satisfaction. Industry will continue to work with the OFT-backed consumer protection scheme, Motor Codes, to play its part in improving standards across the service and repair sector.”
Transport Secretary, Justine Greening, said, “Our garages are crucial to ensuring that Britain’s roads continue to be among the safest in the world. Most are doing good work but the latest data shows that there is room for improvement.
“I want each motorist to be confident that a visit to the garage ends with their car repaired to a high standard by reputable mechanics rather than uncertainty about cost and the quality of service."
The MOT test plays a crucial role in maintaining the standards of vehicles on UK roads. In the UK, new cars complete an MOT test three years after purchase and annually thereafter. Last year there was an 8% reduction in the number of people killed or seriously injured on UK roads and thanks to stringent vehicle testing, the UK has some of the safest roads in Europe.
2012 EU Tyre Label - Helping Consumers Make Better Decisions
November 2012 will see the Introduction of a standardised tyre label by the European Union. The goal of the EU Tyre Label is to promote low emissions and better road safety, with standardised information focusing on three key criteria: fuel efficiency, wet grip and external rolling noise.
Intended to give consumers essential information to help them when choosing new tyres, the EU Label will be given values from A-G, excluding D to avoid an average performing tyre.
Wet braking will be a crucial element highlighted on the EU Label. Vehicles with tyres from Class A stop in the shortest distance from 50mph, whilst tyres from Class B take an additional 3-6 metres. This trend continues for the subsequent values and results in an increase in braking distance of over 18 metres from a vehicle in Class A to Class F. It is key that this crucial safety value appears on the label to enable the motorist to have a fuller picture of the tyres performance. A label that only highlighted rolling resistance and noise could give a false impression of the tyres performance. For wet braking Categories D and G are not used so any tyre with longer stopping distances in the wet will be rated as E or F.
Recommended Tyre Brand of 2011
New independent research by the automotive aftermarket industry experts, Encircle Marketing, has revealed that Pirelli was the most recommended tyre brand of the past year, for the second year running.
The analysis, which continuously monitors brand recommendations in the market, has found that Pirelli came top in 2011 with 6.7 per cent of all recommendations.
Dominic Sandivasci, Managing Director of Pirelli UK, was delighted with the result and keen to recognise the team’s hard work in ensuring that Pirelli products are the most desired in the market.
He commented: “Results like this are extremely important to us at Pirelli. Our premium reputation is built upon high levels of customer satisfaction and the fact that our brand is spreading through word of mouth is fantastic for our growth. We have to thank everyone who works at Pirelli for playing their part in developing and selling superb products, as well as offering such a high level of customer service.”
Infinity’s INF100: Technology Working in Your Favour
“At Infinity we understand the importance of a tyre for the safety and comfort of a vehicle. Given that a tyre is the only part of your van which is in constant contact with the road, your choice of tyres will ensure that you drive safely and comfortably at all times.
Whether your vehicle is large or small, at Infinity Tyres we always try to meet and even excel our client’s expectations and needs. And our clients only want the best tyres. That is why the INF-100 is the best choice for your van.
“This model was created using Infinity’s EFFE (Eco-Friendly Fuel-Efficient) technology to ensure that it is as safe as it is ecologically sound. The INF-100 also benefits from the use of Infinity’s Infinity’s Advanced Comfort Control Construction techniques, which have engineered a van tyre offering balance, economy, comfort and enhanced road traction.
“Dovetailing the block arrangement, the pattern sequence, and the groove configuration ensures that the INF-100 excels at delivering great comfort, excellent response and increased reliability in all conditions for your van or small commercial vehicle.
At Infinity we are constantly improving our tyres and we expect to be introducing new patterns later in the year.”
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