Vehicle safety and maintenance
Vehicle safety and maintenance
This domain covers the checks and legal standards that keep a car roadworthy: tyres, lights, brakes, fluids, seatbelts and child restraints, and the National Car Test (NCT). The test rewards practical knowledge - what to check, when, and what makes a car illegal.
Core standards:
- Cars over four years old need an NCT; after the first test, cars are tested every two years until ten years old, then annually.
- Tyre tread must be at least 1.6 mm across the central three-quarters of the tread width and around the entire circumference. Check pressure when tyres are cold and look for cuts, bulges and cracking.
- All lights must work and be correctly aimed; replace blown bulbs promptly.
- Brake fluid, engine oil, coolant and washer fluid should be at the correct levels; worn wipers should be replaced.
- Seatbelts must be worn where fitted. The driver is responsible for ensuring passengers under 17 are belted, and children under 150 cm or 36 kg need an appropriate child restraint.
Worked example
A pre-journey check finds a front tyre at 1.4 mm tread. It is illegal and unsafe: wet grip and braking are reduced, and the tyre can fail. The correct action is to replace it before driving, not merely inflate it. A current NCT certificate does not make the tyre legal later - the certificate reflects the car's condition on test day only.
Traps
- Assuming an NCT pass guarantees roadworthiness for two years.
- Checking tread only at one point; the legal minimum applies around the circumference.
- Ignoring tyre pressure, which affects handling, fuel use and wear.
- Forgetting that a child restraint must suit the child's height and weight.