A number of new measures are to be introduced to the National Car Test this year to further improve the quality of the service and the safety of vehicles on our roads, according to Fianna Fáil TD and Minister for Labour Affairs Dara Calleary.
Minister Calleary has welcomed measures to restrict noise emissions from exhausts and the level of tinting that can be done to car windows in particular.
The changes relate to lighting, tyres, indictors for safety tools such as airbags and electronic braking systems, and there will be new sanctions for driving a car that does not pass the NCT.
Under the changes to be introduced to the test in April there will be new restrictions on how much car windows can be tinted and how loud exhausts can be.
Vehicles will be required to have a level of noise no greater that 99db and glass in the windscreen and front side windows will also be subjected to tests. Cars that do not pass the tests will be deemed un-roadworthy.
“The noise from modified exhausts can be very intimidating for people and I know many people who have been haunted in their own homes by people roaring past at night time with doctored exhausts,” said Minister Calleary.
“I know of some areas where car parks in residential areas are being used for racing by people with modified cars and the noise of the exhausts is a serious problem for people living nearby.”
The other changes to be introduced in the NCT are really fine tuning of the test as it currently stands. They build on the current safety measures.
