Written answers
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
National Car Test
Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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182. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason new checks for check straps on door hinges have been added to the checklist for the NCT; what the rationale is for this, as it does not impinge on the mechanical ability of the car; if he is aware of the additional expense that this is placing on motorists; if there is any analysis of the effect on consumers conducted before such checks are added to an already onerous system; if consumers have any voice in this process or who represents them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3652/24]
Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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Vehicle roadworthiness is a cornerstone of road safety policy and plays an important role in reducing road accidents and fatalities on public roads. All EU Member States are required, under European law, to carry out periodic roadworthiness inspections on motor vehicles throughout a vehicle's lifecycle.
The items to be tested and the reasons for failing a test in the National Car (NCT) and Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (CVRT) Tests are set out in Annex I of Directive 2014/45/EU. These requirements have been transposed into Irish law by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415 of 2017) and the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (Vehicle Testing) (No. 2) Regulations 2013 (SI 347 of 2013).
The check strap is a safety device on vehicle doors which holds and stops the door at different intervals while being opened, preventing damage to the vehicle. A faulty check strap can allow a door to extend past its opening limit, which may be a danger to the driver and passengers and to other road users such as pedestrians or cyclists.
Section 6.2.3 of Schedule 3 to SI 415 of 2017 sets out test failures in relation to doors and door catches. 6.2.3 (f) provides for a failure where any safety device related to the door or catch is not working or is defective. The Road Safety Authority has confirmed that this reason for failure has been in place since 2009 and has not been amended in the interim.
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