The MOT test is designed to keep the UK’s thriving road network flowing fast and safely. It does this by making sure that all the vehicles on the road – from motorbikes to eighteen-wheelers – are in good roadworthy condition. Here’s how you can help to keep yourself safe on the roads, using the MOT checklist as a guide.
Look to Your Lights
Lights are the most common cause of MOT test fails, so taking the time to go over your vehicle from top to bottom checking the various lights (and there are a surprising number of them!). Tighten light bulbs to ensure they are making a good contact with the electrics; change any that seem to be flickering or dimmer than usual; and ensure that paired lights shine with the same brightness before you book MOT test at Broadway Autocentres.
Hard Brake!
Brake issues are the second most common MOT fail. This is a serious problem to have as without brakes you can’t slow down or stop when you need to – and this is problematic even when you are moving slowly on a very ‘safe’ road. The same issues occurring while driving on a high-speed motorway are, understandably, much more serious and can result in accidents, injuries and worse. Check your brakes easily by finding a quiet car park or similar spot – a large flat area that is unoccupied when you are using it – where you can practice using your service brakes and handbrakes for both regular gentle stops and emergency stops. If you can, have someone watch you, so they can advise if the car is pulling to one side or the other, and can also measure how long it takes the car to stop once the brake is applied.
Steer it Straight
Steering is the third most common fail – and it is significant that these three items comprised the entire MOT test during its first few years of existence: it just proves how important these features are to the safe running of your vehicle and keeping you and other road users safe on the roads, even with all the advances offered by modern motoring manufacture. Using the same space as you use to check your brakes, test your steering by driving in large circles, practicing both sharp and wide turns and paying attention to how the car responds. The steering wheel should feel responsive and crisp, not slushy and ‘slow’ to respond to your commands to turn. The car should also move smoothly, not ‘dipping’ as you turn the corner or bouncing.
If you experience problems with any of these three items, make sure you consult a mechanic as soon as possible – long before your MOT test is due – in order to ensure your road safety.
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