Written answers

Wednesday, 7 May 2014

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Roadworthiness Testing

Photo of Mattie McGrathMattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to provide exemptions from roadworthiness tests to pre-1980 vintage veteran vehicles as he has provided for pre-1980 vintage cars and motor caravans; the reasons vintage veteran vehicles were excluded from exemptions despite numerous public submissions on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20463/14]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the European Communities (Vehicle Testing) Regulations 2004, S.I. 771 of 2004, all commercial vehicles over one year old (including vintage trucks) must complete a roadworthiness test and have a valid Certificate of Roadworthiness if used in a public place. Although there is no exemption for vintage vehicles, such vehicles are tested to the standards that the vehicles concerned were originally designed to meet.  

Regular testing ensures that all commercial vehicles, regardless of age, are maintained to a minimum standard of roadworthiness. Vintage veteran vehicles, even if only covering low mileage, may still have roadworthiness concerns such as perishing of rubber components or seizure of brake actuators following periods of inactivity. To exclude any category of vehicle from annual Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test based solely on the declared usage of the vehicle could have road safety implications. It could also lead to the anomalous situation whereby vintage vehicles being used commercially may unfairly seek to claim an exemption from roadworthiness testing.

In relation to pre-1980 vintage cars, the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2009, S.I. 567 of 2009, exempt cars first registered prior to 1 January 1980 from the NCT.  However, if such a car is used as a Small Public Service Vehicle it must be tested regardless of its age. As with vintage trucks, such cars are tested to the standards that they were originally designed to meet. In accordance with Action 59 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020, the RSA will conduct a review of the roadworthiness testing of vintage vehicles to determine the safety case and cost benefits, if any, for the inclusion or exclusion of such vehicles in roadworthiness testing. I have asked the RSA to bring forward this review and have it completed before the end of the year.

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