Millions of people rely on their car every day, for all aspects of life. Whether it’s going shopping, driving to work, or dropping the kids off at school, many of us simply couldn’t function without a car.
But driving is one of the most expensive aspects of life. Car insurance can run into the thousands, and petrol prices are rising all the time.
But new research has found that some drivers have found a way to keep costs down, and put themselves and others in danger at the same time.
It has been found that millions of motorists are delaying getting maintenance on their cars in a bid to save money.
While this does save money, the majority of defects are rendering motorists’ cars illegal – risking much higher costs in the long run.
It was found that almost a quarter of motorists admit to driving their car while it has damage that makes it illegal to drive.
The most common problems for cars are broken windscreen wipers, defective brake lights, and even faulty brakes.
Many drivers don’t realise that the defects they are driving with make their car illegal. One in five didn’t realise that damaged brake lights render a car illegal, while 19% are unaware that driving with faulty brakes is also illegal.
“In 2010, poorly maintained vehicles caused 52 road deaths. Neglecting maintenance only leads to bigger repair bills later on, lower second-hand values, and increased fuel consumption,” said Neil Greig director of policy and research at the Institute of Advanced Motorists.
“There are also fines if you get caught. More frontline policing and better co-ordination between agencies such as VOSA and the DVLA will help get the worst examples off the road, but In the meantime VOSA should extend the MOT reminder scheme so that no driver can plead ignorance of their renewal date.”
If you have a fault that renders your car illegal to drive, you should not drive until you’ve got it fixed. But if you are concerned about your car braking down, it’s a good idea to invest in breakdown cover, so you’re never stranded.
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