A TOTAL of 2,646 cars
that underwent the NCT car test nationally in the
first six months of this year were deemed
dangerously un-roadworthy, new figures show.
The half-year statistics published yesterday by
operator Applus, also show that more cars failed
than passed the NCT in the period from January to
June.
A total of 754,192 vehicles were tested in the first
half of this year.
And going on yesterday's figures, cars presented for
testing are set to top the 1.5 million mark this
year for the first time in the test's history.
Of those presented so far this year, 381,822, or
50.6 per cent, failed the test with a further 2,646
vehicles deemed 'dangerous'.
Some 369,724, or 49 per cent of vehicles, passed the
test first time.
Of the 371,299 vehicles that subsequently underwent
a re-test from January to June, slightly over 91 per
cent, or 338,490, passed. Some 32,363 failed a
second time while 446 vehicles were again deemed too
dangerous to drive.
Cars going through the test this year are 2010,
2008, 2006 and vehicles that are ten years and
older.
The figures for 2014 continue a year-on-year rising
trend in the number of cars presented for testing as
people hold on to older cars during the downturn.
Nearly 500,000 more cars were put through the NCT
last year compared to the height of the boom seven
years ago.
The number of tests first broke the 1 million mark
in 2012 with 1,067,985 vehicles tested.
Meanwhile, new car sales so far this year have
surpassed the entire number of sales for the whole
of 2013.
The Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI)
revealed that as of Wednesday last, 74,911 new cars
had been sold so far this year, a 28 per cent rise
on the same period last year and ahead of the whole
of last year.
One week into the new 142 registration period, 9,207
new cars have been sold, an increase of 79 per cent
on last year, the organisation said.
SIMI director general Alan Nolan said July was on
target to be the busiest for car sales in many
years.
"The second year of the July plate change has seen
customers, both business and retail, become more
comfortable with the dual plate concept,” he said.
"In fact, the first day of the 142 plate was the
best day for car sales in six years, since before
the recession. We still need to see this improvement
in context, though. It is still potentially fragile
and even with the growth we have seen, we are still
likely to finish around 60 per cent of the
pre-recession market,” he added. |
