Vehicle Road Worthiness Testing - Martin Fernando Ltd - Submission - 16 October 2018

For the attention of the Scrutiny Panel

I am writing about the proposal to introduce Vehicle Road Worthiness Testing in Jersey and the implications of introducing this proposal.

As the largest Bodyshop on the Island we currently see approximately 120 vehicle a week, most of which are in for accident damage, some have extensive body and mechanical damage, in addition we also have the facilities and technicians available for carrying out servicing and wheel alignments.

We obviously work on vehicles of different ages and some that we see have not been maintained adequately and are in poor condition.

Our premises are large and we have the ability to hold over 100 vehicles, The garage is operational six days a week and we have 10 vehicle recovery trucks and employ 32 staff. I have been building up my business for 38 years and we hold the BSi kitemark for vehicle damage repair and are audited every 6 months.

We are the approved repairer all of the Police, Emergency Ambulances and Fire Engines as well as many other States vehicles, we have been doing their work for 30 years. We are also the preferred accident repairer for Jackson s Garage, Motor Mall Garage, Derek Warwick Honda and Freelance Motors, which covers 85% of the franchises in Jersey. We are approved for every Insurance Company and repair 65% of the vehicles in Jersey. We are also the repairer for the majority of the commercial vehicles in Jersey, including Jersey Telecoms and JEC.

Currently the strategy for checking vehicles is dealt with by road checks undertaken by the States of Jersey Police, DVS and the Honorary Police. Vehicles showing defects are taken off the road and the driver is required to attend to the defects before being allowed back on the road. This has worked effectively for many years and I personally do not think MOT testing is necessary for the Island vehicles unless we it becomes a necessary obligation to be able to drive freely in Europe post Brexit.

This legislation as it stands would affect businesses with large company fleets which only remain within the jurisdiction of Jersey and therefore the MOT would enforce additional unnecessary costs upon businesses. Should the proposal be accepted, I think that the States , who currently regulate the taxi tariffs, should also be responsible for the pricing of the tests which I think should be approximately £50- £60.

Whichever Company/Companies are chosen to carry out the testing , they will need to invest in the correct equipment and train technicians to be able to carry out the tests on the vehicles.

If the legislation is adopted in Jersey, our company would be interested in discussing with those involved about becoming a testing station as we are fortunate to have experienced staff and large premises and being on the Trading estate we are in a suitable, accessible location.

I strongly believe that the States of Jersey should not deliver this service and it should be outsourced to existing companies willing to undertake the investment as in the UK. There is no independent body in Jersey which could operate a business to accommodate this proposal for the following reasons

1. At least 8-10 or more trained technicians would need to be employed to cope with the volume of vehicles
2. Administrative staff and a general manager would be required.
3. Large suitable premises to cope with the volume vehicles requiring testing.

The Island has a shortage of qualified mechanical technicians as it is and many of the garages offering mechanical services are unable to fill their vacancies.

Should this legislation be passed I think the first inspection should be at 5 years and following on every 3 years. Many of the vehicles in Jersey do not leave the island or do significant mileage therefore a 3 yearly re- test would suffice.

Martin Fernando

Managing Director Martin Fernando Ltd