Motor Safe Contract With LTSA Terminates

Motor Trade Association (MTA)

End Of An Era As Motor Safe Contract With LTSA Terminates

The LTSA (Land Transport Safety Authority) has advised Motor Safe NZ Ltd, and the motor industry, that its audit contract with Motor Safe will terminate on 31 July 2001.

Authorised Vehicle Inspection Centres (AVIC’s) are licensed to the LTSA, and in its seven year tenure with the LTSA, Motor Safe has played a pivotal role in improving the standard and uniformity of warrants of fitness throughout the country. AVIC’s issue warrant of fitness (WOF) certificates to vehicle owners.

“As the business of gaining a warrant impacts most New Zealanders it is worthwhile to reflect on what it was like before Motor Safe came along”. The inspection industry was in disarray, with no accountability and nothing written down to prove that inspectors were keeping up with the inevitable rapid changes in vehicle technology. In 1994 the LTSA encouraged the major industry players like MTA to set up an audit company.

In the MTA's view Motor Safe became a sensible and successful umbrella organisation providing the vital compliance link between the inspector and LTSA. As a result the NZ motorist has had a level of comfort that Warrants Of Fitness have been consistent and fair.
The MTA are disappointed that the LTSA has chosen to take back in-house the functions carried out by Motor Safe, because the benefits of industry participation in this arena have been significant and very worthwhile for not only the nearly 3,000 AVIC’s, but also the motoring public. “Nobody would argue that vehicle roadworthiness is a key road safety element” says Denis Sullivan, “and the industry-backed Motor Safe era has been a most successful seven years in what can be a very subjective and contentious area which almost every New Zealand driver can relate to”.

The LTSA are proposing a rating regime to be introduced later this year. “MTA has had an excellent working relationship with LTSA,” says Denis Sullivan. “We are committed to ensuring that motorists, through MTA members, continue to receive vehicle warrants of fitness which are fair and reasonably priced.

After such a successful and comprehensive audit provision by Motor Safe, the LTSA will now have to ensure that it provides a superior product to both the motor industry and the motoring public” says Mr Sullivan.

ENDS

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