Ignoring MOT advisories leads to six million road incidents
An estimated six million drivers who ignored MOT advisories in the last year suffered a breakdown or was involved in a collision as a result.
This is according to RAC research, which surveyed 1,460 drivers whose vehicles have recently had an MOT.
It found that 44% of tests led to one or more advisories, which are early warning signs of issues that could lead to the vehicle being unsafe or unfit for the road.
More than six in 10 drivers who received advisory notices said they had already addressed the issues or planned to before their next MOT test, but 39% said they had no intention of resolving the problems. Of those who had ignored advisories, 17% admitted they had broken down or been involved in a collision as a result.
Common advisories
The most common MOT advisories over the last year as reported by drivers in the RAC Mobile Mechanics survey were related to tyre wear (42%), brake pads or discs (34%), suspension (22%), lights (16%) and corrosion (14%).
Meanwhile, the latest government data shows that vehicle defects were a factor in 1,350 collisions in 2023 – the highest number in five years.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender said: “Advisories indicate the potential for the vehicle to become unroadworthy in a matter of months or even weeks, depending on the nature of the issue and how often the vehicle is driven.
“It’s crucial that drivers keep a close eye on any flagged items. Some things are far easier for a driver to monitor than others. Regularly looking at tyres to ensure they have enough tread and are within the legal limits is straightforward enough. But even checking how much is left of a car’s brake pads can be tricky, let alone knowing when a minor oil leak could become much more serious.
“We recommend drivers remove the guesswork altogether and get vehicles serviced at regular intervals.”
