The MOT Tester's role in road safety and trust

As someone who's spent years in the field as a DVSA Vehicle Examiner, and now as a consultant with MOT Compliance Group, I'm passionate about the critical role of an MOT testing station.

The recent government figures, shared in this edition of AutoScene, are a serious wake up call. If 1 in 5 drivers are ignoring safety-critical advisories, then we need to ask the question: is enough being done to educate the vehicle presenter during the document handover process?

You may be familiar with the common misconception that an MOT pass certificate means the vehicle is 'safe' for another 12 months. But any trained tester knows, an MOT is a 'minimum standard safety check at the time of test'. As per the MOT Testing Guide for testing stations:

"The creation of that electronic record relates only to the condition of testable items at the time of test and should NOT be regarded as:

• Evidence of their condition at any other time
• Evidence of the general mechanical condition of the vehicle
• Evidence that the vehicle fully complies with all aspects of the law on vehicle construction and use"

An advisory could mean that it's passed at time of test but may be at a point of failure any time after. As stated in the MOT testing manual:

"It is considered best practice to advise the vehicle presenter of:

• Any items which are near to, but which have not yet reached the point of test failure
• Any peculiarities of the vehicle identified during the inspection
• Any defects on non-testable items which are found during the inspection procedure"

We are not just talking about identifying and assessing the condition of a component but building a relationship of trust with the vehicle presenter themselves and communicating any advisories to be repaired within an appropriate timescale. The MOT inspection manual says: "You are therefore expected to use your knowledge, experience and judgement to assess if the condition of a component has reached the stage where it's obviously adversely affecting its functionality or likely to adversely affect the roadworthiness of the vehicle." A tester can use this knowledge to relay how worn a component is.

An effective document handover process should see the MOT tester explain clearly what the advisory is for (defect), what course of action should be taken and what the potential consequences are of not following this advice. Here's the thing, testers must learn how to relay this information without over-advising as this can be seen as an upsell tactic and you are then in danger of losing the trust of the vehicle presenter.

Knowledge, Experience, Judgement

The MOT Inspection Manual states that a tester is expected to use their judgement to determine whether the condition of a component is likely to impact roadworthiness of the vehicle. Regular MOT tester training will help to develop the confidence to make that judgement along with the right knowledge and experience.

Investing in your MOT testing station isn't just about meeting industry standards or avoiding DVSA disciplinary - it's about road safety and saving lives. Compliance and training are two sides of the same coin and amongst the many services we offer. We saw the need for independent advice and support and are committed to helping MOT testers and garages around the UK. Whether you're looking for training courses, an MOT consultant, or you just need some friendly advice, our business is taking care of your business.

If 1 in 5 drivers are ignoring advisories, let's make sure that's not because we failed. Forget saving your customer money - you might just save a life.

Leon Farnish, MOT Consultant, MOT Compliance Group