MOT tests Northern Ireland: Whistleblowers reveal 'cracks found' in 14 more vehicle lifts, as backlogs persist

Many drivers across NI have been forced to drive their vehicles illegally since a double crisis hit the MOT test centres in 2020.

It was found that 52 out of 55 vehicle lifts had dangerous cracks and had to be replaced – causing huge disruption to tests – which combined with the Covid pandemic to caused major backlogs for appointments.

Ever since, many drivers have been unable to secure test appointments before their MOT certificates expire – sometimes having to wait around three months for a slot.

While this means they have been forced to drive illegally for a time, the PSNI has once again confirmed that motorists will not be prosecuted for driving without a valid certificate, provided they keep their vehicle roadworthy and have a date booked for an MOT test.

However the Chair of the Assembly Infrastructure committee, Deborah Erskine, says that whistleblowers have now revealed that cracks have once again been found in 14 lifts.

The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) responded that the cracks are minor and the lifts are still in service.

Ms Erskine, a DUP MLA, says the cracks were found on 14 MaHa lifts, which she said were also at the centre of MOT testing delays in 2019.

She is pressing the Infrastructure Minister John O’Dowd, of Sinn Fein, for answers.

“A few weeks ago cracks were found in MaHa MOT testing lifts and yet nothing has come from the Department until now when whistle-blowers provided me and my colleagues with information," she said.

“This raises serious questions for the Minister, his Department and DVA, who will be coming to the Infrastructure committee on Wednesday.

"The Department spent £1.8million to replace 52 of the 55 lifts when cracks appeared on the same lifts in 2019. Overall it cost the Department nearly £4million in terms of backlogs to the MOT testing system.

"How have we managed to reach the same situation again? Whilst the number is thought to be 14 lifts, with a lift sent to Germany for further testing, it will undoubtedly cause concern amongst DVA testing centre employees and the general public.

"Undoubtedly it will cause further delays in our MOT testing. Therefore whilst we await the outcome of testing in Germany to the lifts, it is important that the minister clearly outlines what he and his department are doing to curb the looming crisis.

"Lessons should have been learnt from 2019 and it is important that we are honest with the public.”

One reader who lives near Lisburn said they faced great difficulty in finding an appointment at the weekend. Long backlogs have been common since 2020.

"It is chronic," he told the News Letter. "I was online looking on Saturday and at one stage there were no appointments available anywhere, at any time.

"However, I finally got one at Ballymena on 24 April at 8am, even though my tax and MOT are both due three weeks before then."

He now faces a round trip of almost two hours to have his vehicle tested, due to the available test slot being so far away from his home.

A Department for Infrastructure spokeswoman said all the 14 lifts in question are still in service, as the cracks are minor.

“The Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) can confirm that their equipment provider has identified small hairline cracks in the welds of the main scissor bushing of 16 lifts across the test centre network,” she said.

"Independent inspectors have reported their findings on the hairline cracks as category C, which is their lowest category. These hairline cracks are not the same issue as the cracks identified in scissor lifts at the end of 2019, early 2020.

"The DVA has robust maintenance arrangements in place to ensure all vehicle testing equipment operates safely and effectively. All lifts remain in service and MoT appointments have not been affected.

"The inspection frequency for the affected scissors lifts has been increased and the equipment provider is assessing the cause of the hairline cracks and their findings will inform any remedial action required.”

In 2020 an independent report concluded that the suspension of MOT tests due to faults in vehicle lifts caused “substantial” losses of income for the DVA - and that it was also surprising that the DVA did not have a plan in place to replace the lifts.

Overall, the DVA made a loss of £2.1 million during the 2019-20 year, compared with a surplus of £5.5 million in the previous year.

Comptroller and auditor general Kieran Donnelly said problems with the model of lift had been experienced in other countries also.

“I am aware that similar and unforeseen problems with the same make and model of lift were experienced in other countries,” he said in 2020.

“I am, nonetheless, surprised that the DVA had not projected the end life of the lifts and did not have a replacement plan in place.”

He said substantial reserves built up by the DVA over the years would have allowed it to finance replacement equipment.