New draft regulations, announced recently by the Government, will finally close a loophole in the law which has allowed thousands of high-mileage, ageing vans to legally stay on the road without being subjected to an annual roadworthiness test.
It is accepted that light commercial vehicles (LCVs), such as those used by courier and delivery companies, generally cover far greater miles in a much shorter time than private cars.
However, since the compulsory National Car Test was introduced in January 2000, these vehicles have been obliged to undergo a roadworthiness test only when they have reached four years of age. And, after the initial test, the vans don't have to be tested again for a further 24 months.
While many commercial users consider that such vehicles will have come to the end of their working lives well before they have reached the age when they are due for their second test, some companies and individuals continue to use these ageing and often unroadworthy vehicles until they are forced to have them tested.
It is these users that the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jim McDaid, had in mind when he drafted the new regulations. "LCVs will be subject to testing on the same basis as other goods vehicles," explained the Minister. "LCVs will therefore be tested when they are one-year-old and every year thereafter. This step reflects the intensity of use of such vehicles generally compared to that of private cars."
The regulations, which come into full force next year, will also change the categorisation of LCVs and will mean that all commercial vehicles with a gross weight of 3.5-tonnes will be classified as LCVs. The move, bringing Ireland into line with most other EU countries, will mean that some 200,000 vehicles will be subject to the new testing regime. In an attempt to ensure full compliance, the Minister also announced that these vehicles must display a roadworthiness disc in the windscreen.