[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference tallis::celt

Title:	Celt Notefile

Moderator:	TALLIS::DARCY

Created:	Wed Feb 19 1986
Last Modified:	Tue Jun 03 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	1632
Total number of notes:	20523

1137.0. "More inspection on cars in Ireland." by MACNAS::JDOOLEY (Do not take anything for granted) Tue Sep 29 1992 08:40

    Ireland is to join the ranks of the worlds major motoring nations by
    the introduction of compulsory roadworthiness testing for all cars over
    4 years old.
    
    My concern is that the appointed inspectors will try to make a
    financial killing on the backs of the already hard-pressed motorists
    over this rule.
    
    Anyone who has hired a car in Ireland from the U.S will have no
    difficulty in believing me when I state that we already have the
    dearest cars and motoring costs in Europe. Our insurance companies
    already insist on inspection and repair on cars over 8 years old. This
    often leads to rip-offs of the unwary who get both the inspection and
    the repairs done by the same garage. The trick is to inform the
    inspecting garage that you intend getting the repairs done elsewhere if
    they try loading the estimate. I think that the if the eight-year limit
    satisfies the insurance companies it should be enough for  the
    government. 
    
    It is interesting that the main backers of this imposition
    are the garage owners, who stand to make a killing on the panic that
    such a measure will cause. The AA state that less than 3% of road
    accidents are caused by faulty cars while more than 80% are caused by
    driver error and they back a policy of increased policing of existing
    legislation.
    
    I hope my present mechanic, who is not a main dealer, gets a fair
    chance of becoming an inspector but I fear it will be confined to the
    main dealers who charge twice as much for the same job.
    
    BTW I am not looking forward one bit to the impact such a measure will
    have on our already punitive car hire rates and our ailing tourist
    trade with North America. Of course the fat-cat garage owners couldn't
    give a toss.

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1137.1		SIOG::BRADLEY		`Tue Sep 29 1992 10:20`	6
	I think you got it in one. Nobody here cares for the ordinary Joe Soap in the street. Gary
1137.2	why wait four years?	LUNER::ROBERTS	Do not write below this line	`Tue Sep 29 1992 16:17`	3
	they should do it.
1137.3	cars 4+ should be tested.	CTHQ::COADY		`Wed Sep 30 1992 16:02`	14
	JOhn, I agree with your point on the costs and indeed who makes money from the testing. I was surprised on your stats on the amount of accidents from 'mechanically defect' cars - I wuld have thought it was much higher. I know that when I lived in France the figure for accidents as a result of the quality of the car ( the age !) was VERY high, hence the reason that France is also implementing the EEC testing rules. I hate to say it, but I think the testing is good, but maybe the govt. should look at other ways of reducing motoring costs in Ireland
1137.4	test is a good idea	MACNAS::JMAGUIRE		`Thu Oct 01 1992 05:05`	17
	I think that the testing is a good idea - how often would you get the car fully checked out. However, that in itself is not enough. If the car is roadworthy, then the insurance companies should reduce the loading on the age of the car. That's what should happen, but it won't. Insurance companies are in it to make money; that's the bottom line. John's point is a good one though -- the standard of driving in this country is appalling. Last night for example, I was coming back into town along by the back gates of the University. This guy coming against me overtook about 5 cars and forced me up on the pavement. What did it gain him? There was a set of traffic lights just 500 yards up the road so he'd probably have to stop anyway. It doesn't matter what kind of testing you have on cars if that kind of driving goes on. Jimmy
1137.5	YOU HAVE TO PAY THE PIPER	MACNAS::SMORAN		`Thu Oct 01 1992 18:22`	11
	I have to agree with Jimmy, that cars need a good going over every now and then, especially with the state of some of our roads. But in the new bill it should be included that the cost of the inspection should be automatically deducted from the insurance loading. But as Jimmy says don't hold your breath. Stephen P.S. What about compulsary driving tests after being found quilty of dangerous or reckless driving. As for drunk driving, IMO it should be a life ban. When you DRINK you don't DRIVE.
1137.6	How it works in Germany.....	KBOMFG::TANNER	We're one, but we're not the same	`Fri Oct 02 1992 05:50`	24
	I think the inspection system over here in Germany is a good one... When you buy a new car it gets a road worthiness stamp for 3 years. After that you bring it to an inspection hall, and they check out a whole bunch of things, brakes lights, engine, etc. If all is well you get a stamp on the rear number plate indicating when your next test is due, month and year. If the inspector finds something wrong he will tick it off on his list and then its up to you to decide if the car is worth repairing. The inspection system here is called TUV and is run by the state. I think it costs approx 10-15 pounds for the stamp. If your car doesn't pass the test you don't have to pay. You also have have to do an ASU test every year, this test sets the emmission of toxic gases from your engine at a certain level. When this is completed you get a stamp on the front number plate of your car... This test costs approx 10 pounds.. If a system like this was introduced then I think it would work well, on second thoughts it might not unless, you fined the motorist a certain sum for every month his inspection is overdue, and say after 6 months his car should be taken off the road. regards.... -dave-