Vehicle defects linked to more than 1,700 road casualties last year

Dodgy brakes, worn tires and faulty lights led to a surge in road deaths last year, new figures show, as experts say motorists shouldn’t cut back on car maintenance during the cost of living crisis.

Defective and poorly maintained vehicles contributed to 1,759 road fatalities recorded in 2021, the data shows.

That’s a 7 percent increase from the previous year, with brake failure being the leading cause of death. .

Broken brakes were by far the most common failure with a total of 750 casualties in 2021.

This included 10 fatalities, according to Department for Transport data.

Tires were the second most common accident-related defect, contributing to 491 casualties.

However, worn and underinflated tires were the most common cause of death, with 12 people needlessly killed in collisions with vehicles with poor rubber.

Faulty steering and suspension rounded out the top three, contributing to 255 casualties with a total of six fatalities in 2021.

These comparisons with traffic casualties data for 2020 should take into account the massive drop in traffic volume during months of national closures in that year, although it should be emphasized that restrictions were also in place at the beginning of 2021.

There was also a spike in the number of private cars taken off the road – denoted as SORN – during the first Covid months, as well as the six-month MOT extension introduced from the end of March 2020, as companies closed their doors. to prevent the spread of the virus.

With millions of drivers taking advantage of the offer to postpone their MOT in 2020, this has led to a spike in demand for annual roadworthiness tests around this time of year. The AA has called the phenomenon ‘Frantic Fall’ and is urging motorists to book MOT early to avoid delays due to increased demand.

Ensuring drivers will cut back on car maintenance during the cost of living crisis

The car group said the numbers of road fatalities highlight the importance of regular vehicle checks and maintenance to ensure cars are well maintained and safe for the road.

There are mounting concerns that car owners are considering postponing or canceling scheduled maintenance on their vehicles this year to save money during the cost of living crisis.

A report by the Motor Ombudsman published in April found that a third of British motorists plan to cut spending on car maintenance due to tight household budgets.

With the cost of living crisis deepening in the months since, driven by a rise in food and fuel prices and a massive jump in the cost of utility bills, there are growing concerns that more drivers might consider spending less on their cars. to ride a motorcycle.

The AA said the statistics should also serve as a warning to the government to discard any suggestion to extend the annual MOT to every two years.

Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is said to have floated the idea of ​​reducing vehicle checks in April when then Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened his cabinet to propose ways to help Britain’s finances during the cost-of-living crisis.

While Mr Shapps had reportedly said such a move could save drivers hundreds of pounds a year, he made reservations stating that any changes would have to meet a ‘very strict safety standard’.

In April he told the House of Commons Transport Select Committee: ‘If you look at things like MOTs – cars have clearly become a lot more reliable than when the MOT, named after the Ministry of Transport, was introduced.

“I think it’s always good to keep an eye on these things, but there’s still a lot to do before we get there.”

The car industry reacted furiously to the reports in April, rejecting the concept of extending MOT deadlines.

Stuart James, boss of the Independent Garage Association, was incredibly critical of the idea, saying: “In our view, this whole plan is dangerous, undesirable and unreasonable.”

AA chairman Edmund King also participated in the suggestion of a biennial MOT: ‘[The] AA does not support MOT inspections every two years, as this compromises safety and may cost drivers more in expensive repairs if something goes wrong.”

He said the move “would be contrary to the driver’s opinion”.

When the idea was floated earlier in 2022, 97 percent of AA members said the annual MOT was important, and more than four in five (83 percent) said it was “very important.”

Penny Stoolman, director of AA Approved Garages, said the statistics of ‘tragic’ road casualties reported this week showed how many lives could have been saved if some motorists had carried out ‘simple house checks’ before departing.

She added: “Likewise, MOTs and maintenance are more than just a health check. They could be life-saving interventions that reduce the number of road fatalities across the country.

“We are concerned about rumors of switching the MOT from every year to every two years. That would be contrary to road safety and we are urging the government to rule this out today.’