More garages and mechanics fiddle annual car safety checks
Last year, 242 mechanics who had been licenced to carry out annual checks to test cars for roadworthiness were suspended for fiddling the results, the AD reports on Tuesday. This is a rise of 22% on 2014.
In addition, 255 garages temporarily lost their licence to carry out APK checks because they had failed to spot necessary repairs, the paper said. Six garages lost their licences altogether.
The vehicle licencing authority RDW said the rise in suspensions is due to tougher checks imposed by its inspectors last year. One in 30 cars which goes through the annual APK test is now checked again by RDW inspectors.
Several mechanics told the AD they had been put under pressure or bribed by car owners to pass their vehicles as fit to drive.
The RDW declined to name any of the garages concerned, citing privacy regulations.
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