Yearly W.O.F. tests opposed

Press, 27 April 1983, Page 31

Yearly W.O.F. tests opposed

PA Auckland Motoring organisations would strongly oppose any Government moves to increase the warrant of fitness period from six months to a year. The two main independent motoring bodies — the Automobile Association and the Motor Trades Association — both said changing to yearly tests would see a dramatic increase of substandard cars on the road when there was already a problem with people neglecting to get warrants of fitness. The Minister of Transport, Mr Gair, has said that a possible reduction in the frequency of W.O.F. checks would be looked at along with a review of other road safety measures, but that the Government would first have to be satisfied it would have no detrimental effects. The Automobile Association’s Auckland public affairs manager, Mr Rob

Johnstone, said he could not foresee any immediate swing away from the six monthly tests.

“It is not a new idea. It has been surfacing for a period of years. He would be opposed to the change, as we have been in the past,” Mr Johnstone said.

“Six-monthly periods are necessary here to prevent more and more cars in disrepair appearing on the roads,” he said.

The Motor Trades Association’s executive director in Wellington, Mr Max Barclay, said it was his experience that many countries envied New Zealand with its twice-yearly warrant of fitness checks.

In canvassing foreign traffic authorities for ideas and ways of cutting back on the number of motorists who were not bothering with warrants, he said he was told that any relaxation of the rules could be a backward step.