Thousands of potentially unsafe cars could hit the road this month due to the cost of living crisis, motoring experts warn.
Concerns have been raised about MOTs expiring this month.
New research from Halfords has suggested rising costs will mean drivers can’t afford to fix their cars and still take it on the roads.
Alarming new statistics revealed that one in six (17%) motorists say they do not know how they will afford to renew their MOT.
But the most worrying figures came when 71% admitted they would continue to drive their motorbike.
Around 3.3 million MOTs will expire in March, meaning around 406,000 cars without one could be on UK roads.
And DVSA figures revealed the current MOT failure rate is 28.5%, which could put 115,000 potentially dangerous motors on the streets.
Young drivers aged 18-24 are among the most likely to be hit, with 22% saying they won’t be able to afford their next MOT.
And 87% of younger drivers said they would continue to drive without it.
The cost of living crisis has been blamed for the potential danger.
It has led to 66% of road users present in the research saying they need to spend their money elsewhere and 23% saying they have got away with their driving without one.
And for some, not going on the road is simply not an option, with 47% needing to drive to get to work, 34% needing their car for work and 26% needing it to take their their children at school.
Halfords chief executive Graham Stapleton said: “The data shows that March will be the worst month we have ever seen for cars on our roads without an MOT.
“MOTs are vital, annual safety checks that are carried out on vehicles that are three years old or older. It’s not about ticking boxes, they check things like whether there’s enough tread on the tires or whether the brakes are working correctly
“Official data show that 28.5% of vehicles do not undergo MOT.
“This means that around three in ten vehicles owned by people planning to skip their MOT are unlikely to be roadworthy, possibly more because those who avoid an MOT could be more likely to take less care your vehicle in general and replace things like tires on time.
“The fact that so many are able to take their children to school in vehicles without an MOT is a real concern.
“The bottom line is that it’s not worth the risk, not just of a fine and points, but of putting yourself or others in danger.”
Antony Kildare, chief executive of IAM RoadSmart, the UK’s leading road safety charity, said: “Households up and down the country are being forced to cut back on everyday spending to balance the books, but with the latest figures show that 27,450 people were killed or seriously injured on UK roads, it is extremely worrying to know that such a large proportion of motorists are choosing not to have their annual MOT.
“We urge motorists to take their vehicle in for their annual MOT, but we also encourage regular vehicle checks to avoid MOT failures.
“These include making sure your engine oil is topped up, checking your tires daily, practicing good driving habits and paying attention to warning lights and strange noises.
“It’s not worth it for drivers to take risks, either for themselves or for other road users.”
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