Posted: Tuesday, 09 September 2014
Perhaps you are one of the millions of UK drivers who, over the years, have 'forgotten' to obtain an MOT on your vehicle. Perhaps you were not caught either. Well, times are changing thanks to digital technology. Police now have a set of tools making it much easier for them to catch MOT offenders.
The new technology comes by way of digitised MOT certificates and equipment enabling police officers to run spot checks instantly. Every police officer will check a vehicle pulled over for other violations, while at other times vehicles can be checked as they are driving down the road. In either case, the Department for Transport (DfT) is warning motorists not to drive without a valid MOT.
Being caught without an MOT could incur fines of up to £1,000 and points added to a licence. Some cases could even result in cancellation of insurance, leaving a driver in further violation of the law. An accident without insurance could lead to further penalties as well as significant financial loss.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders conducted some research which suggests roughly a third of all UK drivers have operated a vehicles without a valid MOT certificate. The government estimates the total number on the road at any given time is about equal to the number of those driving without a valid tax disc or insurance.
The seriousness of the problem is underscored by the purpose of the MOT. The MOT is required to make sure all vehicles on the roads meet safety and environmental standards. Without such standards in place, drivers could head out in vehicles that are ripe for accidents. Doing so endangers not only their own lives, but also those of other drivers.
Valid MOTs for company vehicles is not as big a problem due to the fact that companies rely on said vehicles for their livelihoods. Going without a valid MOT could seriously jeopardise company operations. Having said that, the same cannot necessarily be said about drivers.
It is not that companies do not care about hiring drivers with questionable driving histories; it is just that continually checking up on licences can be incredibly time-consuming and inconvenient. Even with the new DVLA electronic database now on the horizon, smaller companies do not have the time or resources to devote to dealing with the agency for the purposes of licence checks. That is where Fleet Licence Check proves invaluable.
For more than 20 years, Fleet Licence Check has been offering claims handling service to customers of all sizes. Now we are also authorised to perform licence checks as well. Regular licence checks will reveal if company drivers have been penalised for driving their own vehicles without valid MOTs.
Fleet Licence Check can offer you a comprehensive solution to handle all of your claims and licence checking needs. If you would prefer, we can also provide one-off services as you need them. Fleet Licence Check is here to help you protect your business by keeping track of your drivers and handling your claims efficiently. Whilst MOTs are your responsibility, speak to us about fleet vehicle management solutions and we'll put a plan together for you.
Source: Motoring.co.uk