Government's mandatory testing hits commercial goods vehicles - report

Just 82 per cent of heavy goods vehicles and 77 per cent of light goods vehicles passed the mandatory vehicle tests carried out by the Department of the Environment last year, it was revealed yesterday.

The figures, which are contained in the Irish Bulletin of Vehicle and Driver Statistics published by the Department of the Environment, also show that about a third of those which passed did so only after faults had been found and rectified.

Some 18 per cent of heavy goods vehicles, and 23 per cent of light goods vehicles failed the test. The bulletin also shows that the number of licensed vehicles exceeded 1.5 million for the first time in December 1998.

The number of private cars was also the highest on record, at 1,196,901 in December 1998, compared to 1,134,429 in 1997.

The statistics reveal a booming car industry, with only the numbers of second-hand imported vehicles falling from previous years.

The bulletin shows that 52,636 imported used vehicles were licensed in 1998, a 2 per cent reduction on 1997.

Of the 100,112 driving tests completed in 1998, it says the overall pass rate was 57 per cent. Drivers fared only slightly better in resitting the test, with 59 per cent passing.

Licensed drivers amounted to just under 2 million at December 31st, 1998 - three-quarters of whom held full licences and one quarter of whom held provisional licences.

Copies of the bulletin are available from the Vehicle registration Unit, Department of the Environment and Local Government, Shannon, Co Clare.