The scandal and risk of double standards on our roads
18 February 2008
Jim Allister MEP has expressed deep concern about the disparity in treatment of local drivers and foreign drivers in Northern Ireland and the implications for road safety.
In a statement Mr Allister says, “It might come as a surprise to some but the DVA does not take any interest in vehicles which foreign nationals bring with them to Northern Ireland. Thus they are permitted to be driven unlicensed. A foreign licensed vehicle brought into the UK may be used for up to 6 months in 12 before it is required to be registered, but as there are no records of when vehicles enter the UK it is never possible to show the 6 months has expired. Thus virtual amnesty exists on licensing for foreign nationals using such vehicles.
Moreover, foreign registration marks are not detected by the DVA Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras.
But of greater concern from the road safety perspective is that foreign vehicles are immune from MOT requirements. Under Reg 6 para (1)(x) of the Motor Vehicle Testing Regulations (NI) 2003, foreign registered vehicles “temporarily” in Northern Ireland are exempt from the requirements of these regulations and such exemption lasts 12 months. Again, since there is no way of proving date of arrival, the effect is an open-ended exemption from MOT.
This is a scandalous situation which first and foremost can endanger other road users, but also, discriminates against locals who have the expense of both taxing and putting their vehicles through the MOT. With so many foreign nationals and their vehicles now on the roads of Northern Ireland, we cannot let this go on and, therefore, I am calling on the Environment Minister to urgently review the current regulations."
