New research from Autoglass has identified that one in five motorists are potentially in for a shock at their next MOT test.  The research, which included a YouGov poll of over 1,300 UK motorists, found that although only 60-70% of cars typically pass their MOT test according to official figures, an overwhelming 90% of motorists say they are confident their vehicle will get through the test without a problem, a minimum 20% difference.

The poll also identified that although the majority of drivers schedule their regular service either just before their annual MOT test (35%) or when they reach the mileage recommended by the manufacturer (27%) almost a quarter (24%) don’t have a regular service (at least once a year) to ensure their vehicle is in tip-top condition for the road.  Furthermore, almost 6% don’t know when their next MOT test is due.

The vast majority of drivers (86%) agree that the purpose of the MOT test is to ensure the vehicle is roadworthy, yet a significantly lower number (67%) feel the test is there to ensure the safety of road users. 

When it comes to safety in general, awareness of the importance of some crucial vehicle components is relatively low. For example, only just over half (58%) of motorists put seatbelts in their top four priorities for safety, only 25% said they would prioritise airbags, and only 12% considered the windscreen to be a safety priority.

Separate testing by Autoglass found that the windscreen provides up to 30% of a vehicle’s structural strength and can also support the correct deployment of passenger airbags during a crash.  In addition, the ability of the windscreen to remain in position reduces the risk of passengers being ejected in roll-over accidents, even when the passenger is wearing a seat belt.

 

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