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Post by martycanuck on Feb 28, 2022 20:42:42 GMT -5
In Ontario a mechanic has to “certify” a car for safety but only once. New cars pass automatically but dealers check them anyway. If you buy a used car it needs to be “certified” by a mechanic so you can get license plates issued the first time. After that there is no requirement to re-certify UNLESS a safety defect is noted. If the police pulled you over for a tail light or head light being out the police can order you to get your car re-certified.(most likely would just issue the fine for minor infraction though. You’d have to be a real dick with the cop for him ot do that to you).
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Feb 28, 2022 22:37:27 GMT -5
Personally I'm glad that there's an assurance that the vehicles on the road ARE tested. Imagine how much worse the accident rate could be if there wasn't a regular check for worn tyres, duff brakes etc...! I suppose it's hard to know whether the inspections make a difference or not, especially when you hail from a place that requires them. Here in Michigan, where inspections are not required, we have many wrecks, but I can't think of any that were the result of a vehicle's condition. The usual cause seems to be driving errors. |
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Post by martycanuck on Feb 28, 2022 23:12:49 GMT -5
But I can say that I do still see some cars / trucks on the road that I wonder how they aren’t pulled over and have their plates pulled because they are clearly in such poor shape.
I remember being at our factory and one of the pick-up trucks in the parking lot looked like a tree had fallen across the middle of it. The frame was visibly bent and it got driven every day! (The employee has replaced it since)
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 1, 2022 0:08:04 GMT -5
I remember a story in The County Press about a guy who ran into a police car. His defense was the taillights on the police car were out.
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Mar 1, 2022 9:20:14 GMT -5
I wonder, how much of a difference do the regular inspections of vehicles make? I would think the majority of auto accidents involve vehicles that are perfectly fine. Or it's the drivers that are the cause of the accidents and not the condition of the vehicles. The required inspections just seem like another way to take up people's time and money. Whilst having a defective vehicle might not be the cause of many crashes, they can certainly make them worse. Bald tyres and poor brakes will mean a greater impact speed when you hit that solid object. Bits of rusty bodywork could rip a limb off if you hit a pedestrian when they might otherwise have just broken it. A missing fuel cap could lead to a vehicle fire in an accident. Defective seatbelts could lead to passengers exiting via the windscreen. Sure, it's an extra expense, but running a car is an expensive business. There are plenty of people who don't bother to get their vehicle tested, or insured (or even get a licence) but the chances of getting caught are quite high. British police use the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. A camera front and back of every traffic car reads every number plate on every vehicle that is in front, behind or passing by. A very quick computer check will flag up any documentation issues. Within a second an alarm will sound to alert the cop that you shouldn't be on the road. If he's too busy, he can just send you the ticket in the post. If he does stop you, it then gives him the chance, and the right, to sniff out any drugs or alcohol offences as well. And if it turns out that you are short of certain documents, the police will sieze your vehicle on the spot, leaving you at the roadside. If you don't correct the paperwork and pay all fines and costs within, I think, 14 days, your car gets crushed and turned into Coke cans. |
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Mar 1, 2022 15:31:57 GMT -5
As Dan said (I also live in Virginia), all personal vehicles/trucks must pass inspection every year you own them. They must pass an emissions test every two years. Where you are - not here. No emissions tests where I am. |
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Mar 1, 2022 15:32:59 GMT -5
Yearly inspections of vehicles have got to be a pain in the ass. Or... just keep your vehicle safe.... |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 1, 2022 17:34:26 GMT -5
Yearly inspections of vehicles have got to be a pain in the ass. Or... just keep your vehicle safe.... But I don't want to. I like driving a car that's falling apart and endangering everyone on the road. When the police pull me over for driving my "unsafe" car, I give them a real attitude, which always results in me getting a bigger fine.  Freedom Convoy should be about this. We shouldn't have to concern ourselves with the well-being of other people. You know? |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 1, 2022 18:21:13 GMT -5
I wonder, how much of a difference do the regular inspections of vehicles make? I would think the majority of auto accidents involve vehicles that are perfectly fine. Or it's the drivers that are the cause of the accidents and not the condition of the vehicles. The required inspections just seem like another way to take up people's time and money. Whilst having a defective vehicle might not be the cause of many crashes, they can certainly make them worse. Bald tyres and poor brakes will mean a greater impact speed when you hit that solid object. Bits of rusty bodywork could rip a limb off if you hit a pedestrian when they might otherwise have just broken it. A missing fuel cap could lead to a vehicle fire in an accident. Defective seatbelts could lead to passengers exiting via the windscreen. Sure, it's an extra expense, but running a car is an expensive business. There are plenty of people who don't bother to get their vehicle tested, or insured (or even get a licence) but the chances of getting caught are quite high. British police use the Automatic Number Plate Recognition system. A camera front and back of every traffic car reads every number plate on every vehicle that is in front, behind or passing by. A very quick computer check will flag up any documentation issues. Within a second an alarm will sound to alert the cop that you shouldn't be on the road. If he's too busy, he can just send you the ticket in the post. If he does stop you, it then gives him the chance, and the right, to sniff out any drugs or alcohol offences as well. And if it turns out that you are short of certain documents, the police will sieze your vehicle on the spot, leaving you at the roadside. If you don't correct the paperwork and pay all fines and costs within, I think, 14 days, your car gets crushed and turned into Coke cans. All that is understandable. Around here, where inspections are not required, if you're driving an unsafe car, you run the risk of being stopped by the police and fined. You could say the police are the enforcers of safe vehicles. In my way of thinking, that takes care of the need for yearly inspections. The older I get, the faster years go by. If I needed a car inspection every year, it'd feel like I was doing it weekly. |
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mank
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Post by mank on Mar 2, 2022 10:35:02 GMT -5
As others have said, Pennsylvania, where I live has yearly inspection and emission requirements. However, if you drive less than 3000 miles a year in Pennsylvania the emissions test is waived. I know this because my wife with her 2013 Chrysler 300 C drives less than 3000 miles a year generally and gets a waiver almost every year.
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Stan
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Post by Stan on Mar 2, 2022 11:44:32 GMT -5
Our inspection requirements in Colorado have changed frequently while I have lived here. We're always big on emissions, if you've ever seen the "brown cloud" surrounding Denver, it's justified. These days, most inspections are after the fact. If you cause a problem due to (legally defined) issues, you'll get an extra ticket. My diesel truck gets emissions tested every 2 years (gas is 4).
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graham
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Post by graham on Mar 2, 2022 17:36:18 GMT -5
we have many wrecks, but I can't think of any that were the result of a vehicle's condition. The usual cause seems to be driving errors. Again, though, if you make a "driver error" and put your foot on the brakes and they don't work properly, or it's wet and the car skids because you didn't have any tread on your tyres... |
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Post by martycanuck on Mar 2, 2022 22:47:49 GMT -5
we have many wrecks, but I can't think of any that were the result of a vehicle's condition. The usual cause seems to be driving errors. Again, though, if you make a "driver error" and put your foot on the brakes and they don't work properly, or it's wet and the car skids because you didn't have any tread on your tyres... In Canada the state of repair that you see on cars would make this a very rare occurence and unlikely that regular inspection would catch it. The same is likely pretty true in the US. There are just too many new cars on the roads that would be up to current standards. Now that said it is when I am in the US (and MOST of my experience is around Watertown, NY in this regard) I do still see quite a lot of vehicles that appear to be in pretty serious disrepair. Not the majority of vehicles to be clear but quite a lot more than I am used to seeing. |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 3, 2022 0:07:54 GMT -5
In Canada the state of repair that you see on cars would make this a very rare occurence and unlikely that regular inspection would catch it.The same is likely pretty true in the US. There are just too many new cars on the roads that would be up to current standards.That's what I was trying to say. My thinking is that yearly inspections are a waste of time and money. The inspection can take an hour and you have to pay for it, and there might not be anything wrong with the car. I see an occasional piece of shit on the road, but the vast majority of the cars look to be in good shape. I think most people will have problems fixed as soon as they can because they don't want to get a ticket. |
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mank
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Post by mank on Mar 3, 2022 9:26:03 GMT -5
The intent of the inspections, at least in Pennsylvania, is to make sure your car is functioning properly; all lights work, horn, windshield wipers, adequate tire tread left, brake pads and rotors have enough left on them to last a year, etc., etc. Additionally, vehicles are checked to ensure there are no holes in the car that would allow exhaust fumes into the vehicles. It used to be in PA that your vehicle had to be inspected twice a year. There is also testing done to ensure your car passes emissions.
I know back in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s cars in PA often had rust due to road salt and inferior metals. These days it is rare to see a newer car with rust holes.
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Mar 3, 2022 10:08:33 GMT -5
These days it is rare to see a newer car with rust holes. Wish I could say the same about vehicles here. Trucks and SUVs seem to rust the worst. I'd say on most, it's rare to see something more than 5 years old without rust bubbles in the wheel wells. Of course, those are the vehicles that interest me the most so my observations are a bit biased. I'm actually pricing replacement panels for my project right now. |
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graham
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Post by graham on Mar 3, 2022 14:43:40 GMT -5
The same is likely pretty true in the US. There are just too many new cars on the roads that would be up to current standards.
As Malcolm mentioned previously, it's only for vehicles that are over 3 years old.
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Mar 3, 2022 15:23:51 GMT -5
Or... just keep your vehicle safe.... But I don't want to. I like driving a car that's falling apart and endangering everyone on the road. When the police pull me over for driving my "unsafe" car, I give them a real attitude, which always results in me getting a bigger fine.  Freedom Convoy should be about this. We shouldn't have to concern ourselves with the well-being of other people. You know? Or... just do what *I* do and do what's right. And one of those things is to do my level best to not be a douche-canue. |
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Mar 3, 2022 15:33:28 GMT -5
And one of those things is to do my level best to not be a douche-canue. Funniest thing I've read today. Thank you for that. |
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Rob
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Post by Rob on Mar 3, 2022 16:49:36 GMT -5
But I don't want to. I like driving a car that's falling apart and endangering everyone on the road. When the police pull me over for driving my "unsafe" car, I give them a real attitude, which always results in me getting a bigger fine. Freedom Convoy should be about this. We shouldn't have to concern ourselves with the well-being of other people. You know? Or... just do what *I* do and do what's right. And one of those things is to do my level best to not be a douche-canue. I don't have a car. I haven't had a driver's license since I was 25. |
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Dan
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Post by Dan on Mar 8, 2022 17:27:13 GMT -5
And one of those things is to do my level best to not be a douche-canue. Funniest thing I've read today. Thank you for that. I read many funny things - especially when I reread things. |
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MalcolmR
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Post by MalcolmR on Apr 4, 2022 10:01:08 GMT -5
Whew, I've found it. All the time we were having this discussion, I remembered a photo I had taken during one of my US trips. But could I find it? Could I heck. Now, six weeks later I come across it. If I drove this vehicle in the UK, I would be stopped by the first cop that saw me, I would be fined, possibly get points on my licence and the vehicle would be towed. If this hit a pedestrian, it would quite possibly rip their legs off. IIRC this photo was taken in CA. Are their laws more relaxed? I won't even mention the illegible licence plate.  |
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mank
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Post by mank on Apr 4, 2022 11:08:57 GMT -5
Malcolm,
I don't know about California but that car would not pass inspection in Pennsylvania is my guess. In Pennsylvania we only have one license plate that is on the rear of our vehicles. This picture does make me wonder why is that radiator on the outside of the car. That is a Ford Aerostar by the way. I had one of those back in 1996.
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Stan
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Post by Stan on Apr 4, 2022 11:40:14 GMT -5
Damn clever engineering.
That wouldn't be legal in Colorado. Bumper laws if nothing else (5mph, no damage).
There's no shortage of stupid people and cops have real live, actual criminals to deal with, so I'd expect that vehicle to go a month or 2 before they got a ticket.
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Jim
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Post by Jim on Apr 4, 2022 11:44:08 GMT -5
Meh. Nothing wrong with that. Some times you need a little extra cooling.
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Post by martycanuck on Apr 4, 2022 17:11:02 GMT -5
Whew, I've found it. All the time we were having this discussion, I remembered a photo I had taken during one of my US trips. But could I find it? Could I heck. Now, six weeks later I come across it. If I drove this vehicle in the UK, I would be stopped by the first cop that saw me, I would be fined, possibly get points on my licence and the vehicle would be towed. If this hit a pedestrian, it would quite possibly rip their legs off. IIRC this photo was taken in CA. Are their laws more relaxed? I won't even mention the illegible licence plate. Pretty hilarious to mount something that vulnerable to damage that is so important to the car in harms way! I mean I know rads are at the front but sheesh, at least the grill stops most stuff. I drove an Aerostar as a rental once. What a piece of crap. |
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mank
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Post by mank on Apr 5, 2022 6:44:56 GMT -5
My Aerostar was the top of the line Eddie Bauer package and was all wheel drive. It was a dependable vehicle until somebody t-boned me, almost put the van on its side, and totaled the vehicle. They ran a red light at high speed. It was a Verizon service van with a driver who was in a hurry to get home. He hit me so hard on impact it snapped my left wrist off of the steering wheel and broke it. Additionally, he drove the engine compartment into the passenger area and my right foot was stuck for a moment. Oh, and how could I forget, that vehicle did not have air bags and I ended up with a round imprint of the steering wheel on my chest and torso. So, I would say that vehicle did not have any longevity.  |
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Post by glennfrommars on Apr 6, 2022 20:06:27 GMT -5
I typically dont buy a vehicle till it has 100K on it, the exception is my Tacoma, which had 60k. The Acura MDX had 114K. Havent purchased a new car since 1981. Several cars had 300-350K on them when I sold them, my old Ranger had just turned 400K. No major repairs on any except the 93 Ranger needed a transmission at 350K. $75 for a used trans and 100 to put it in. It was the only vehicle that ever left me on the side of the road, it was the manual transmission locking down from lack of transmission fluid. (for years the service station across the street changed my oil sometimes, Al checked every fluid level. Al retired, new guy wasnt worth a damn.) Typically my cost for a vehicle and major repairs is less than $1 per mile.
Interesting pic that Malc took. I cant figure out if it was added to supplement cooling or if it was a stopgap measure. Only cooling would be when the car is moving at highway speeds. I've been in the automotive field for nearly 50 years, some of the things that make sense to whoever did that, doesnt make sense to me.
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Post by mollypop on May 27, 2022 21:42:10 GMT -5
Florida is a no inspection or emission requirement state. Also utility and boat trailers require registration but insurance is not required. Motorcycles are also not required to have insurance. In some residential and rural areas golf carts are road legal.
My top of the line premium vehicle insurance (while expensive) makes for sleep well satisfaction and a buffer against damage/theft costs.
I get around the worry of vehicle defects by driving a 2020 vehicle where everything works except the driver...
- L -
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frodi
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Post by frodi on May 28, 2022 14:36:32 GMT -5
My car was up for its' NCT on Thursday. It was due about two weeks ago. I tried to book a slot 6 weeks ago when I got notification and the earliest date the computer would give me was next September! (In Ireland it's a penalty point offence to drive without a current NCT.) I rang the help line and straight away they could give me a date two weeks after the NCT was due. I arrived 30 minutes early ready for a wait but instead I found mechanics standing around waiting for cars to come in. My keys were practically snapped up and I ended up leaving 5 minutes before my appointment was due. Half the bays were empty so they could have been doing at least twice as many tests.
As I wrote above it's a money making scam.
The car passed with flying colours.
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