A log book and MOT certificate with the V5 registration certificate should be enough, right? Think again.
Everybody knows that not all dealerships and garages are completely ethical and it is possible to get a fake MOT certificate or for a garage to have passed a car that in fact has a few things wrong with it. This can easily lead to a road traffic accident.
A way to get around this is to use the computerised MOT scheme to check whether the certificate you have in your hand is authentic.
Computerised MOT scheme aims to wipe out car crime You can also request the test history of the vehicle you are planning to buy and receive a response via email. If the vehicle you want to buy has an old MOT certificate that was not issued using MOT Computerisation, there will be no record of the test.
The older style MOT certificate is completed by hand and embossed with the stamp of the issuing garage. If the MOT certificate of any car you are trying to sell has been lost or damaged, you can obtain a duplicate from any MOT garage or station.
The new certificate is called a VT20 and is the receipt for an MOT test, but should not be relied on for proof. Only the computer record can prove a vehicle has a MOT which is valid.
To check the MOT status, all you need is the registration number of the vehicle and the test number from the new style MOT test certificate.
As well as reducing MOT certificate crime, the computer record will improve the standards and consistency of the MOT test and enable all UK drivers to buy a tax disc online at www.directgov.uk.
The computerised MOT scheme was introduced to force compliance with the requirement for test certificates, reduce MOT certificate crime and improve standards. Read more at www.motinfo.gov.uk
Big brother electronic road systems The computerised car systems hint at a George Orwell world where smart cars could monitor driver behaviour - theoretically designed to protect them and help prevent car accidents - and inform the Government, who would then fine them accordingly.
A new proposed smart microchip is being proposed by the Government to pick up information about breaking speeding limits and not paying for your road tax in time, which would be linked to MOT information on the computerised system.
Critics have called the proposal "the spy in the dashboard" and civil liberties group say the EVI scheme (also known as Electronic Vehicle Identification), which could be fitted to every car over the next five years, is in breach of personal rights.
The police say that EVI would allow them to track down terrorists, criminals and car thieves by picking up information about the car from equipment on roads. By following the route of the car, they can isolate and target the perpetrator. Dangerous cars and dangerous drivers would be forced off the roads and car accidents would be reduced.
But motoring organisations, civil groups and lawyers trying to protect the hundreds of thousands of motorists penalised on a daily basis for speeding offences are alarmed by the proposals. They say it will affect those who can least afford to cope with penalties and charges, but who most need a car and who prevent as many car accidents from happening as authorities say they will.
EVI is already being used in some parts of Europe, and a feasibility project was agreed in 2002 with ERTICO (umbrella organisation with representatives from the ministries of transport and the police).
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Vehicle safety is a puzzling issue for automakers. Despite improvements in vehicle safety measures, vehicle-related fatalities in the U.S. have stayed the same over the years, with about 40 000 deaths a year. Why are fatalities continuing at the same level despite technology which makes cars safer? One suggestion is that it's not unsafe cars that are responsible for these deaths - it's the unsafe drivers behind the wheel.
According to research from Robert Bosch LLC, two out of three drivers do not hit the brakes hard enough before an accident. This is not because he or she wants the accident, but rather because of the human condition. Multiple warning systems, distractions from passengers, and processing the events on the road can cause the decision-making process to take milliseconds too long. These overwhelming forces can impair one's ability to slam on the brakes in time, or with the correct force.
The solution, according to Bosch, is a predictive brake-assist technology that will detect an anticipated accident and react by activating the brakes. The system will continuously monitor the surroundings on the road to determine stopping distance. With these calculations constantly running in the car's computer, the hydraulic brake is properly engaged for full-force braking once an impact is evident.
Although there's no evidence yet to predict how the predictive brake-assist system will help reduce the over 2 million front-end collisions which occur each year, it's reasonable to believe it will be useful overall. However, some believe this technology could actually be detrimental to drivers' safety, because of the possible assumption that the car will do the braking in lieu of the driver, and the driver therefore will not attempt to stop the car on his or her own. This argument may seem strange, but can hold some validity. More research is needed before the predictive brake-assist technology can become a necessary safety feature on new vehicles.
Some manufacturers are already using predictive braking technology. Mercedes Benz has implemented the system in their SL550. Based on the amount of pressure the driver places on the brake pedal, the car is able to sense an emergency and apply the maximum power boost. Many other manufacturers, such as Toyota, Volvo, Cadillac, and BMW are also testing the technology.
The predictive brake-assist system is just one example of a growing body of technology designed to improve vehicular safety. Another item currently in the works is the lane departure notification system. It uses an electronic eye to detect if the car is driving within the lines. If the vehicle drifts outside the lines, the system will emit an audible warning. This technology will most benefit drivers who may be falling asleep on the road.
Continuing with the notion that drivers themselves may be the greatest safety danger they face, Bosch has proposed adding a sixth star to the current vehicle safety rating system. This new star will rank a vehicle's accident avoidance systems, such as lane departure notification and predictive brake-assist. It will help consumers evaluate how well a vehicle will help them stay safe on the road, not just how well it will withstand an accident.
Both Simon Jacobs & Jason Lancaster.. are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Simon Jacobs has sinced written about articles on various topics from Car Accidents, DUI and Auto Insurance. Car Accident Advice Line helps people to claim compensation after they have been injured in a car accident that was not their faul. Simon Jacobs's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
Jason Lancaster.. has sinced written about articles on various topics from . Author Jason Lancaster, a car industry veteran, developed AccurateAutoAdvice.com. You'll find accurate