July/August 2020

JULY/AUGUST 2020 AFTERMARKET 39 www.aftermarketonline.net analysers need to be calibrated at regular intervals. “They also need to put all the correct safety measures in place. If the garage has been closed and they are opening up again, do they need screens? Do they need to put markers inside and outside the premises? To assist our members, we are offering them a review of the measure they have in place to enable them to reassure their customers. DVSA have also now said that garages don’t have to make observation available to the customer, because that would have the potential to bring them within the workshop, and possibly closer than two metres. “A big concern is that there is going to be a massive increase in demand, because people who’ve had their cars parked up suddenly realise that their MOT is due. Plus, if it’s got a flat battery or flat tyre, this is going to put additional strain onto garages.” Frank added: “Make sure to keep an eye on the DVSA website. In addition, the IGA website is providing a summary of the information from government on an almost daily basis. If garages need to know the detail, we include links into the source document. Some of what the government has had to do is fairly complex. What’s the old saying? The ‘Devil is in the detail’.” For more information go to: IndependentGarageAssociation .co.uk . Resistance The MOT extension has seen harsh resistance across the sector. The IAAF also wrote to government arguing for the measure to be overturned. In various communications with DVSA and Department for Transport (DfT), IAAF Chief Executive Wendy Williamson said the decision to extend the MOT “will inevitably have a serious impact on road safety as road worthiness can alter greatly during this period. There is also the obvious concern that due to this postponement there could be thousands of vehicles on the road that are dangerous and unroadworthy. “Use of private vehicles, where there is no fear of direct infection from other members of the community, is increasingly the preferred option. There is more need than ever to keep cars on the road. Therefore, the MOT is an essential requirement to keep vehicles on the move.” Wendy has additionally written to the Northern Ireland Assembly challenging the Northern Ireland infrastructure minister’s decision to extend MOT’s there for twelve months. Previously, the IAAF has said DVSA’s decision to extend MOTs for a six- month period causes “huge challenges” for the sector, arguing that the industry needs to ensure vehicles continue to be kept safe. More than a million So, what is going on with testing? As we reported in News, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by comparison website Motorway .co.uk showed that that 2,153,768 MOT tests have been carried out since the extension was granted. 746,157 MOTs were performed in April, with a further 1,407,611 undertaken in April. In contrast, over the same period in 2019, there were 7,166,056 tests performed. Another statistic that emerged during the month was an estimate of the potential number of unsafe cars on the road. Analysing its own statistics, along with DVSA data, Kwik Fit has estimated 1,096,000 vehicles which have received a six- month MOT extension would have failed a test with dangerous or major defects had they undergone a MOT. Of these unroadworthy vehicles, it is estimated that some 316,000 would have dangerous defects, while the remaining 780,000 vehicles would fail with major defects. It was also suggested that 49% of drivers covered by the extension are waiting for it to end before they get a test for their car. Roger Griggs, Communications Director at Kwik Fit, said: “The extension has been very helpful to drivers during the lockdown, but as COVID-19 prevention measures begin to ease we urge the government to remove the automatic extension in order to prevent dangerous and illegal cars taking to the roads unchecked.” As we see, tests are still being performed. With this in mind, OSRAM has begun a campaign to promote vehicle roadworthiness and tackle the largest MOT failure item, lighting. According to DVSA figures, faulty lamps, reflectors and electrics are responsible for 14.9% of MOT failures. With the MOT test currently extended due to the Coronavirus pandemic, OSRAM has published consumer advice that contributes to keeping a vehicle roadworthy and drives business into independent garages. Advantage OSRAM Marketing Manager Terri Clark commented: “OSRAM is strongly recommending changing bulbs in pairs and encouraging garages to take advantage of these profit opportunities. Both headlights are subject to the same stresses, so they’ll both be deteriorating together. Replacing just one failed bulb can result in an unbalanced or unpredictable headlight beam that can cause serious hazards for you and other drivers. A vehicle is designed so that it works best when both headlights are functioning equally. Only then will the driver get the full advantage of the combined headlight beam on the road ahead. “OSRAM recommends that all lights on a vehicle should be checked regularly, including headlights, stop, tail and reversing bulbs. As part of its new campaign, ‘If it’s not bright, it’s not right’, it is advising motorists that headlights will degrade over time and, as a result, night time vision will be reduced. OSRAM tests show that a standard halogen bulb loses 30% of brightness after 500 hours of use – therefore it makes sense to be proactive when it comes to checking that all the lighting applications are functioning and operating as they should be on a vehicle. With the average age of vehicles increasing in the UK, it is essential that lights are regularly checked and replaced. Upgrade Upselling is key here. Terri commented: “The campaign is also promoting the benefits of upgrading to a better vehicle bulb, one that is both brighter and whiter. “It is important that garages offer motorists a choice of upgrade lighting options. Offer customers a choice and they are likely to upgrade, it’s a simple as that!” To find the right bulb for any vehicle, OSRAM has expanded its bulb replacement guide at www.osram.co.uk/bulbfinder To find out more information visit: www.osram.co.uk/changeinpairs What’s the old saying? ‘The Devil in the detail’ ”