Is it time to privatise MOT testing in Northern Ireland?
The backlog for examinations is absolutely insane!
Good morning to you our readers – and the new wave of newsletter subscribers who signed up on the back of our Shambles Market edition. We’ll have more on that story in the coming days as Scott has been busy chatting to many (poor fella’s exhausted) about the trials and tribulations of the market; some of whom have solutions too…
However, this morning I’m taking the opportunity to pose the question: Is it time to privatise MOT testing? i.e allow local garages to carry out the official inspections, similarly to how they do it in England and Wales.
This photo 👇 was what greeted one reader this week – and she’s not alone! Not a single appointment for an MOT. Nada. Zilch.
According to the Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), Jeremy Logan, motorists in Northern Ireland face an average wait of 72 days for an MOT test.
It’s absolute madness!
Mr Logan cited a “change in customer behaviour” in that people “are holding onto their cars for longer" meaning more cars need testing. Covid and faulty equipment is longer the excuse.
But could garages be brought in to help alleviate the issue? After all, it’s a system that seems to work fine in England and Wales, whereby a car owner would go to a garage to get the road worthiness tests done. Sometimes at 24 hours notice.
There are hypothetical pros and cons over this approach, ranging from the proverbial brown envelope, or perhaps the increase in failure rate and a need for unnecessary repairs, all to the benefit of the private garage – an issue not associated with the government funded MOT centres at present. Strict regulation would need to be in play.
But what do you think? Vote in the poll and leave a comment below.
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🤔 Conundrum
Well done to those of you who guessed Tuesday’s conundrum… Totting them up will see you succeed!
The answer: Poyntzpass
Today’s conundrum is this..
This wine feels far from fine!
Where in Co Armagh are we talking about?
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