26 Mar A Brief History of MOT
We all know that to stay legal on the road, we need to take our vehicle to an annual MOT test. Have you ever wondered when the test was first started and what were the reasons? Here is a brief history of MOT:
First introduced in 1960, the MOT was the brainchild of then Minister of Transport, Ernest Marples. As you can imagine, the roads are much less densely populated than now! This test was brought under the rule of the Road Traffic Act of 1956.
Originally, it was a very basic test designed to check only the brakes, steering and lights for all vehicles over ten years old and then every year thereafter. It was first known as a ‘ten-year test’ or the ‘Ministry of Transport test’. For information about your MOT Gloucester, visit a site like http://swiftfit.uk.com/
Tests were soon brought in for all vehicles over seven years old at the end of 1961 because the failure rate was so high. The following year, commercial inspection began in which vehicles had to pass and get a certificate in order to receive a tax disc. In the spring of 1967, the age of the vehicle was reduced further to all those over three years old. In 1983, the MOT for ambulances, taxis and vehicles with more than eight passenger seats were also introduced.
What started in 1960 as a very basic examination of three things immediately began to expand year by year. By 1968, a tyre check was introduced, followed by the windscreen wipers and washers, indicators, brake lights, exhaust and horns in 1977. In 1991 that list is increased further by the addition of test gas emissions, rear wheel bearings and steering, anti-lock braking system and rear seat belts.
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