Stricter MOT is a fear of older cars: most have a big problem going through! – Podkapotou.sk

Fear in the name of strict STK changes statistics. We had the best cars in the EU. Now?

At present, an average of 13 out of 100 inspected cars do not pass through the sieve of technical inspection stations in Slovakia. As early as 2018, until the MOTs were under strict supervision, almost all of the cars inspected underwent a technical inspection, with the exception of approximately six percent. For comparison – in EU countries, with more effective supervision, it was 20 to 27 percent. Based on statistics, it looked like we had one of the best fleets in the European Union, with cars in almost perfect technical condition. However, a significant change and real situation in our country became apparent two years ago, when the supervision of technical and emission control stations increased significantly.

Statistics based on vehicle inspections that have passed MOT inspections in the past have been at odds with what our western neighbors have said. That’s when it started to be whispered that everything would probably not be right with us. Slovakia is a country of skilled people and unlimited possibilities, so in 2013 the introduction of the original camera system, which was to supervise the work of technicians at the MOT, did not help. However, a fundamental change came two years ago; the professional supervision of STK stations has also increased significantly due to the higher involvement of Testek. It is currently a kind of extended hand of the state. The company supervises the activities of STK and their technicians so as to ensure effective control and that there are no massive frauds in the performance of technical controls. For the last two years, the company has been collecting comprehensive data for all technical inspection stations throughout Slovakia and subjecting them to inspection. “Correctly performed technical inspection is a guarantee that cars are safe on the road and do not harm the environment. Until recently, according to statistics, it looked like we had the best fleet in the EU in Slovakia. After we started supervising the MOT, the numbers are not so pink and more reflect reality, ” he says Marián Rybianský, Chairman of the Board of Testek.

We had the best cars in the union on paper, but the reality was completely different

Back in 2018, when MOTs were not under the supervision of Testek and under the supervision of second-generation cameras, only about six percent of vehicles in Slovakia were ineligible after MOT inspections. These numbers did not correspond at all to the averages of, for example, disproportionately richer countries such as Germany, Finland and Sweden. A year later came a big turnaround. Suddenly, we found out that Slovakia fits exactly into the average data of the union, and once so many dangerous and damaged cars drive on our roads, ie about 15 percent.

“In one of the technical inspection stations, the year-on-year increase in ineligible vehicles was even more than 20-fold in this period. The fact that they suddenly had 30 percent fewer clients in a year also testifies to the fact that not everything with “church order” was at this particular MOT. It is clear that this MOT was also among the many those where ineligible cars “passed” the technical inspection, while of course the connection with corruption cannot be ruled out. ” said Marián Rybianský, director of Testek.

Older cars have problems with MOT, watch out for the brakes

From the point of view of our region, it is common that only 5% of cars within three years have a serious technical problem. However, when we look at the category of vehicles aged 9 and over – while the average age of a passenger car in the Slovak Republic is 13.9 years – the situation is much worse there. Up to 68% of vehicles have serious and less serious errors, so not a third of cars practically pass the MOT without any problems. With these data, it is understandable that the pressure on STK technicians is escalating and there are also opportunities for unfair practices. But health is only one thing and no one wants to be betrayed by a car that, for example, has failed its brakes. Therefore, fleet control is standard throughout Western Europe.

One way is stricter supervision, the other is the complete abolition of MOT stations. You can go to Russia as an example. There, corruption at the MOT has gone so far that local experts are proposing to abolish it altogether, as almost every vehicle has passed inspections and they emphasize that roadworthiness testing has nothing to do with road safety. With a high level of corruption, it is really questionable whether the MOT makes any sense at all.