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WQ.294/2024
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
BY DEPUTY M. TADIER OF ST. BRELADE
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 16th SEPTEMBER 2024 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 23rd SEPTEMBER 2024
Question
"In relation to MOT style vehicle inspections, will the Minister advise –
- which vehicles are subject to these tests and the rationale in relation to requirement or exemption for each type of vehicle;
- any policy or framework relating to these inspections;
- what assessment he has undertaken, if any, that confirms the current system of inspections is achieving positive outcomes;
- whether he has given any consideration to the system being discriminatory, in targeting certain vehicles over others; and
- whether he is considering ending the scheme or extending it to include more vehicles?"
Answer
- DVS currently undertakes the periodic inspection of public service and oversized vehicles and also the annual inspection of all commercial vehicles over 3.5 tonnes, which began in 2018.
In April 2019, DVS began the Periodic Technical Inspection of mopeds, light motorcycles and minibuses.
Extending vehicle inspections to all remaining vehicles was the subject of an appraisal of options which was concluded in October 2021. There remains considerable work to extend inspections to all remaining vehicles and, whilst this is planned, there are no current timescales for achieving this ahead of 31st March 2028.
The rationale for the inspection of all vehicles is that of public safety. Jersey's Road Safety Review, which was adopted by the Assembly in December 2021, had at its core the Safe System' approach to Road Safety. Periodic vehicle inspections are crucial to making the Safe Vehicles' aspect of this system effective.
In addition to road safety, the rationale also includes the requirement to meet the provisions of the United Nations' Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968, which was extended to Jersey in March 2019 following approval by the States Assembly.
- The policy position was derived from the Island becoming a signatory to the United Nations' Vienna Convention on Road Traffic 1968, which enabled free circulation of Jersey drivers in Europe post-BREXIT.
To comply with its terms, it was always clear that domestic legislation would have to incorporate the inspection of all Jersey registered vehicles, regardless of whether they travel internationally. In November 2018, the States Assembly approved enabling legislation to establish vehicle inspections through an amendment to the Road Traffic (Jersey) Law 1956.
In December 2018, the Minister for Infrastructure made the Road Traffic (Periodic Technical Inspections – General Provisions) (Jersey) Order 2018, setting out the operation of the PTI regime in more detail.
In terms of the scope of the technical inspections, this is determined within the Vienna Convention, but would cover the standard items included within a UK MOT.
- A number of mopeds, light motorcycles and minibuses do not pass the inspection, and as such these vehicles are found to be unroadworthy. This justifies carrying out these inspections from a road safety perspective.
- The system is not regarded as discriminatory. The current inspection regime on commercial and public service vehicles is rightly focused on those vehicles that present the most risk to the public and where good technical condition is an important factor.
The inspection of mopeds, light motorcycles and minibuses was bought in as an early step as these represent vulnerable road users and DVS was able to accommodate these inspections within its existing test centre. A high percentage of vehicles inspected by DVS as a result of defect reports, road checks or police impounds were either mopeds or light bikes, therefore it was decided this would be the next phase of inspections.
To inspect all remaining vehicles will require the implementation of arrangements to inspect a large number of vehicles per annum. There have been practical difficulties in implementing these arrangements which still need to be overcome. Recently, the date in the Periodic Technical Inspections Order to begin these inspections was updated to on or before 31st March 2028.
- The current intention is to implement the scheme as set out in the legislation approved by the States Assembly in 2019. This would see the scheme being extended to cover all the remaining vehicles as identified within the answer to part a, above.