New numbers suggest that faulty brakes, old tires, and broken lights contributed to an increase in road fatalities last year, and experts advise motorists not to skimp on auto maintenance during the current economic downturn.
The data indicates that defective and badly maintained vehicles contributed to 1,759 road fatalities in 2021.
This is a 7% increase from the previous year, with bad brakes being the leading cause of death, according to the AA, which advised drivers not to forgo yearly services to save money and urged the government to dispel rumors of extending MOTs to two years.
In 2021, defective brakes were by far the most common cause of 750 fatalities.
According to Department of Transport figures, this number included 10 fatalities.
Tires were the second most prevalent defect associated with accidents, amounting to 491 fatalities.
However, worn and underinflated tires were the leading cause of fatalities, with 12 people losing their lives needlessly in incidents involving vehicles with bad rubber.
Faulty steering and suspensions rounded out the top three, contributing to 255 injuries and six deaths in 2021.
These comparisons with road fatality data for 2020 should account for the significant reduction in traffic numbers during the months of national lockdowns that year, however, it should be noted that restrictions were also in place at the beginning of 2021.
As companies closed their doors to avoid the transmission of the virus, there was an increase in the number of privately-owned automobiles taken off the road – declared as SORN – during the early Covid months, as well as a six-month MOT extension implemented at the end of March 2020.
With millions of drivers opting to postpone their MOTs in 2020, this time of year has seen an increase in demand for annual roadworthiness tests. The AA has dubbed this phenomenon “Frantic Fall” and is recommending motorists schedule their MOTs in advance to prevent delays caused by increased demand.
During a cost-of-living crisis, it is feared that motorists may spend less on car upkeep.
The motoring club stated that the road fatality statistics underline the significance of routine vehicle inspections and maintenance to ensure that vehicles are well-maintained and safe for the road.
To conserve money during this year’s cost-of-living squeeze, there are rising concerns that car owners would delay or cancel their vehicle’s regularly scheduled maintenance.
A Motor Ombudsman research published in April indicated that one-third of British motorists want to spend less on car maintenance due to tightening household constraints.
As the cost-of-living issue has worsened in recent months, as a result of a spike in food and fuel prices as well as a significant increase in the cost of energy bills, there are rising concerns that more motorists would contemplate cutting corners with their vehicles.
According to the AA, the numbers should also serve as a caution to the government not to consider extending the yearly MOT test to every two years.
Former Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is rumored to have proposed reducing the frequency of vehicle inspections in April when then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened his cabinet to discuss ways to alleviate the cost-of-living problem.
Mr. Shapps had allegedly stated that such a change could save drivers hundreds of pounds each year, but he qualified his statement by stating that any modifications would have to fulfill a “quite stringent safety standard.”
In April, he told the Transport Select Committee of the House of Commons, ‘If you look at things like MOTs, cars are much more reliable than when the Ministry of Transport-named MOT was introduced.
“I believe it is always appropriate to assess these matters, but we have a long way to go before we reach that stage.”
In April, the automotive sector reacted fiercely to the claims, condemning the idea of lengthening MOT times.
Stuart James, the executive director of the Independent Garage Association, was extremely skeptical of the proposal, stating, “In our judgment, the entire strategy is risky, unnecessary, and unjustified.”
AA President Edmund King also criticized the idea of a biennial MOT, stating, “[The] AA does not support biennial MOTs because they impair safety and could cost drivers more in costly repairs if something goes wrong.”
He stated that the action would “fly in the face of driver opinion.”
Earlier in 2022, when the concept was first proposed, 97% of AA members deemed the annual MOT test to be important, and 83% deemed it “extremely important.”
Penny Stoolman, general director of AA Approved Garages, stated that the ‘tragic’ road casualty statistics released this week demonstrated how many lives could have been saved if some drivers had performed simple home checks’ before driving.
She said, “Similarly, MOTs and maintenance are more than a simple health check.” They can be interventions that save lives and lower the number of traffic fatalities across the nation.
“We are concerned about rumors that the MOT will be conducted every two years instead of annually.” This would be detrimental to traffic safety, and we strongly urge the authorities to prohibit this immediately.’
