Media release

Wellington, Monday 6 August 2012

WoF changes need care

With transport officials reviewing Warrant of Fitness testing, one Wairarapa driver says he’d be concerned at any move to relax the current six monthly testing for older cars.

Roger Clarke from Masterton credits a failed WoF test with saving his life and says any change needs to be considered very carefully.

“I didn’t realise there was anything wrong with my car and I don’t think I’d be here today if the inspection hadn’t picked up my worn brakes and shock absorbers,” says Mr Clarke.

The frequency of Warrant of Fitness inspections is one part of the changes being considered by transport officials as a way of lowering compliance costs for motorists.

Late last year, Mr Clarke was travelling north from Masterton in heavy rain when he approached a bridge near Pahiatua.

“I was travelling about 70 km/hr, taking care in very low visibility, and there was a truck on the bridge coming towards me. As I got closer, a car suddenly pulled out from behind the truck to overtake it. I slammed on the brakes and stopped just before the bridge abutment – metres short of being of being wiped out by the car coming the other way.”

Mr Clarke says the brakes and shocks on his Toyota Windom had been repaired just a week or so before the near miss. “My mechanic said the brakes were ‘100% gone’ – I wouldn’t have known anything about them if it hadn’t been for the warrant inspection at VTNZ.”

“Like most people, the warrant of fitness inspection is how I make sure my car is safe and I have no problem with the current system.”
ends

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