NEWS

The continuing concerns about the proposed review of the current MOT scheme which includes possible revision to the frequency of the tests has galvanised Associations whose members undertake MOTs to undertake a major national survey of customers to find out what their view is of the MOT.

The survey, which asks motorists whether they feel the test is making a major contribution to road safety, is being carried out in thousands of MOT test centres during November and some 600 centres in NTDA membership have agreed to poll their customers.

The NTDA Director says that even considering a change in the frequency of MOTs is bizarre, particularly when MOT fail rates are at an all time high of 37% on average, and heavier vans at 50%.

A Press statement from the MOT Forum of which the NTDA is a founder member said “Two yearly MOTs won’t really save motorists the £25 or so a year likely to be claimed by the Government, (who are perhaps hoping to gain popularity by the change). Motorists will still need to pay for annual checks and repairs each year to keep their cars safe, but without the MOT would every motorist do it? Very unlikely! Yet DfT’s own expensive surveys show strong support by motorists for the annual MOT in its contribution to road safety; motorists are not clamouring for this change. It is difficult to understand how the Department for Transport can suggest that the MOT imposes any unnecessary ‘…burden on motorists’.”

“Whatever any DfT reassessment comes up with, one thing is certain reducing MOTs to two yearly will both kill and seriously injure more people on the roads – probably in their hundreds (deaths) and thousands (serious injuries), as the DfT’s existing report has already shown.

“The annual MOT in its present form is the only guaranteed safety check that 28 million vehicles go through each year. It is trusted and respected by motorists and excellent value for money; remove it, and given the worsening state of our cars on the UK roads, then the DfT’s action would significantly increase the likelihood of death and serious injury for road users and pedestrians alike.”

NTDA members poll their customers on MOTs…

Subs held..The Council of the NTDA has decided to hold subscription levels for 2011 at 2010 levels which means that subscription levels have only increased by an average of 1% per annum over the past five years.

The Association’s Honorary Treasurer Peter Gaster commented: “I am delighted to be able to announce that we will hold subscription levels at a time when all members are facing severe financial restraint. Our draft year end accounts show that the association is operating on a stable financial base and we decided that we would cut our 2011 budget cloth accordingly.”

NTDA Chairman David White opens the Health and Safety Workshop at last month’s Brityrex in Manchester. Dates for the whole series of events, co-sponsored by NTDA and the Health and Safety Executive have now been announced which now include Glasgow on March 8th and Bristol on March 24th. Details will be issued nearer the dates but anyone interested in securing one of the limited places should contact NTDA Aylesbury.

£5k plus for BEN from DinnerMembers and guests at last month’s Annual Dinner in Manchester raised a fabulous £5206.24 for our sponsored charity BEN. The money was collected from a raffle for three prizes donated by Yokohama Pirelli and Marshall Motor Group plus an auction for two tickets to Dubai donated on the night by Infinity Tyres.During the evening the three prizes which were raffled were: • 2 places on either Racemaster or M3 Master Driving Experience donated by Yokohama HPT Ltd • 40 minute flying lesson donated by Marshall Motor Group• Italian supercar experience at Thruxton donated by Pirelli UK Tyres Ltd

Brityrex Seminar

NEWSwww.ntda.co.uk

It is customary for the Council to present a gift to the outgoing Chairman and Peter Gaster was presented with an engraved tantalus by Chairman David White…

Peter has been a keen supporter of the NTDA for many years having held regional officer position in our South East Region and first being appointed National Chair in 1993, and in the mid nineties he took on the role of Honorary Treasurer.

David commented “Peter is very much the ‘comeback kid!’ as he was re-appointed National Chair 2007 until I took over from him this year and he was also reappointed to the role of Honorary Treasurer again at these year’s AGM.”

New Website for Wholesalerswww.twg.ntda.co.uk

Following on from the successful re-launch of the NTDA website The Tyre Wholesalers Group section of the site has been completely redesigned with many new features.A dedicated news

section which looks at more business related items is updated on a daily basis and a new facility to search over 170 different tyre brands can identify whether TWG members handle the brand. Visitors to the site can still search the products and services of all TWG members to find out which tyres are in their portfolio from car and light van to specialist tyres such as industrial and even cycle tyres.Commented current TWG chairman Ashley Croft, “the site is aimed at retail customers, both NTDA members and the trade as a whole and will provide a web based information source to drive new customers to our members”. Preparations are well advanced for the annual Wholesalers Lunch which this year is being held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham and a full report will appear in next month’s issue of Tyres and Accessories.

NTDA Directory 2011

Work is progressing on the 2011 edition of the NTDA UK Tyre Industry Directory which is the only dedicated tyre industry annual and is firmly established as the UK Tyre sector’s premier reference source – this key industry publication is now at the centre of the NTDA communications effort.Regularly referred to over its twelve month shelf life by thousands of tyre professionals throughout the UK, the Directory contains data on the products and services of all the centres in membership of the NTDA and also contains an editorial section, which examines the major issues affecting today’s tyre industry.Once again the Directory will be compiled, edited and written by Peter Gardner, one of the UK’s most-respected Tyre Industry specialist writers, who was editor of Tyres & Accessories for 14 years, before turning freelance in 2004. As such, he has an in-depth knowledge of the tyre industry and the presentation of facts and stories.

Annual Dinner Presentations

John Thurston was National Chair of the NTDA in 1994 and then took over the Treasurer role in 2002 until he retired at this year’s AGM. The National Council of the NTDA decided to award John Honorary Life Membership at their last meeting and John was presented with his certificate on stage at the Dinner in Manchester last month.

UK TyreIndustryDirectory 2011

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