New Zealand WOF system is it a genuine necessity or a scam?

[Ocean1]

Do the studies cover our situation exactly? People used to their cars being checked, then all of a sudden they don't need to and could potentially save $100 a year? I think the number of dangerous vehicles will increase without WoF checks here. Many people rely on it, as previously stated, for checking their tyres/suspension etc. Without their fear of getting fines for no WoF the attitude will become very lax.
I do think the WoF system could be improved upon.

Be interesting to see how many mechanics would be out of jobs without the WoF system, I'm a mechanic (apparently I held a spanner once) and it wouldn't effect me at all due to the part of the trade I'm working in, but I would bet a fair few garages will fall on their faces without the typical unsafe shit needing repairs.

The studies I read were American and Aussie comparisons across states that had different inspection requirements. There have also been a couple of studies that have taken advantage of changes in inspection requirements, adopting or abandoning them. None that I'm aware of from NZ, presumably because we've pretty much always had a WOF system. But here's the thing: you should have a fucking good reason to force people to spend their money on something. And the available indications are that we don't have a good reason. And no, keeping mechanics employed isn't a good enough reason, fine upstanding body of fellas though they are.

The fact remains that faults in cars that seem likely to affect accident rates... don't. Whether that's because the degree of safety compromise involved is too small to measure or whether maybe drivers mitigate risk by being more careful nobody knows.

Only slightly related, but the event that caused a review and subsequent tightening of WOF reg's regarding body rust in cars was an accident where a woman turned across the front of a truck on a main highway, killing herself and her kids. Turns out the car had been pop riveted together across a fairly high percentage of it's width to repair damage from a previous accident. Was the repair a safety issue? Fuck yes. Would the woman and her kids died anyway? Yes. The benefit of testing for dodgy repairs in a monocoque passenger car shell? In that case, fuck all.

[Scuba_Steve]

Be interesting to see how many mechanics would be out of jobs without the WoF system, I'm a mechanic (apparently I held a spanner once) and it wouldn't effect me at all due to the part of the trade I'm working in, but I would bet a fair few garages will fall on their faces without the typical unsafe shit needing repairs.

Well here's the kicker, most [car] mechanics would like to see the WoF scrapped

[buggerit]

I believe that the testers are not allowed to dismantle any part of the car for inspection, so removing wheels to check for disk and pad thickness is not allowed, nor removing drums to check brake shoe wear.
With bikes of course the disks and (sometimes) pads can be inspected without any dismantling, so many of us will be aware of WOFs failed becuase disks are worn beyonf the limit that the makers have helpfully stamped on them.

Pad thickness you can see with a mirror , a lot of drum brakes have an inspection hole in the backing plate with a rubber bung in it.
The guy that does my warrants is an A grade mechanic , he checks and tells me if he thinks anything is coming up for replacement even though it passes
a warrant, he may say "I think your front pads have got a couple of months left in them". With testing stations you do not build up that relationship you
do with a trusted mechanic and I would prefer someone I trust checking rather than gambling they are a qualified mechanic and not someone who has had 5 years washing cars in the local car yard as their experience to train as a warrant of fitness inspector.

[Katman]

Well here's the kicker, most [car] mechanics would like to see the WoF scrapped

Do you have a source for that or did you just make it up?

[ducatilover]

Well here's the kicker, most [car] mechanics would like to see the WoF scrapped

I have yet to meet one that shares the same sentiment, I've had many a chat recently about the WoF system changes.

The studies I read were American and Aussie comparisons across states that had different inspection requirements. There have also been a couple of studies that have taken advantage of changes in inspection requirements, adopting or abandoning them. None that I'm aware of from NZ, presumably because we've pretty much always had a WOF system. But here's the thing: you should have a fucking good reason to force people to spend their money on something. And the available indications are that we don't have a good reason. And no, keeping mechanics employed isn't a good enough reason, fine upstanding body of fellas though they are.

The fact remains that faults in cars that seem likely to affect accident rates... don't. Whether that's because the degree of safety compromise involved is too small to measure or whether maybe drivers mitigate risk by being more careful nobody knows.

So, according to studies is sweet as to have fucked shocks and bald tyres

Only slightly related, but the event that caused a review and subsequent tightening of WOF reg's regarding body rust in cars was an accident where a woman turned across the front of a truck on a main highway, killing herself and her kids. Turns out the car had been pop riveted together across a fairly high percentage of it's width to repair damage from a previous accident. Was the repair a safety issue? Fuck yes. Would the woman and her kids died anyway? Yes. The benefit of testing for dodgy repairs in a monocoque passenger car shell? In that case, fuck all.

That's actually a very good incentive to tighten the rust rules. Yeah they may have been killed either way, but in a less obscene crash it may be a life saver (you're well clued up and I reckon you'd be better than me at explaining how the transfer of energy in a crash in certain parts of the body is very, very important)

[scumdog]

Well here's the kicker, most [car] mechanics would like to see the WoF scrapped

Troll...

[avgas]

They take a fucking sight longer to do that, though. So if we're being consistent here WOFs should now be required about every five years.

This is what I would expect.
But I would compromise to 2 years - as servicing should also be a requirement, and a vehicle serviced a minimum every 2 years will run for longer.

[Motu]

No, I don't think mechanics would like to see WoFs scrapped, but wouldn't be too concerned about not doing them. They are a good fill in, but generally an interruption to the working day. In the days of the Municipal Testing Station garages weren't allowed to do WoFs within a certain radius...but we still did the repairs. I started in the trade in 1970, but it wasn't until I moved out of the Testing Station area in 1984 that I was able to do them, and have been ever since. When you are doing these tests everyday, and you see the faults in cars - no, they are not an irrelevant burden on the consumer, and not a cash cow for repairers. It'd be nice to think that the other road users are as concerned about the condition of their vehicle as you are of yours, the reality is 90% won't fix anything until they are made to.

As far as failing on ridiculous things like empty washer bottles goes, the WoF test these days is more of a compliance test, the vehicle has to be kept in the condition of it's compliance. When washer systems became mandatory, they became part of the safety system of that vehicle. The stories about being able to drive around in an unsafe car in other countries is a myth. We don't want roadside policing of vehicle safety, the current system has more of a freedom of choice.

[Ocean1]

So, according to studies is sweet as to have fucked shocks and bald tyres

No, it's just that the risk isn't increased as much as most think. As I said, the difference is apparently smaller than can be reliably measured.

That's actually a very good incentive to tighten the rust rules. Yeah they may have been killed either way, but in a less obscene crash it may be a life saver (you're well clued up and I reckon you'd be better than me at explaining how the transfer of energy in a crash in certain parts of the body is very, very important)

There's more to the story. Someone had done a tolerably good job of bogging up the riveted seam, I'm not sure if that'd been done before it's previous WoF, but you wouldn't have found it in a WoF inspection anyway. You can't legislate agin' fukt in the head, they no listen.

And yeah, the safety designed into the current fleet is responsible for the single largest improvement in road safety from any source whatsoever. Maybe the lesson is design shit so humans can be humans safely, rather than trying to redesign humans, eh?

[ducatilover]

No, it's just that the risk isn't increased as much as most think. As I said, the difference is apparently smaller than can be reliably measured.

I'd be interested in seeing exactly how these tests were done. I might just let the Pilot Powers on my Shitsaki go bald then, and not fit the new suspension

You can't legislate agin' fukt in the head, they no listen.

And yeah, the safety designed into the current fleet is responsible for the single largest improvement in road safety from any source whatsoever. Maybe the lesson is design shit so humans can be humans safely, rather than trying to redesign humans, eh?

You're right bout the fucked in the head part. I'd be illegal if you could legislate against that...
I think starting a safer system of driver training with new drivers will show a nice improvement. But, dumb cunts will always be dumb cunts.

[Ocean1]

I'd be interested in seeing exactly how these tests were done. I might just let the Pilot Powers on my Shitsaki go bald then, and not fit the new suspension

I wasn't clear, I find. The research involved no tests, it involved direct comparisons of accident data between states that had substantially the same fleet, the same mix of roads, traffic density etc etc. The only difference was one state required routine WoF type inspections and the other didn't. There's been several such studies, they show no effective difference in accident stat's.

[oldrider]

Every vehicle should have to pass a WOF every day and drivers sit a driving licence written and practical test every day before being allowed on the road!

[ducatilover]

I wasn't clear, I find. The research involved no tests, it involved direct comparisons of accident data between states that had substantially the same fleet, the same mix of roads, traffic density etc etc. The only difference was one state required routine WoF type inspections and the other didn't. There's been several such studies, they show no effective difference in accident stat's.

That's quite interesting. I would be keen to see what happened if we abolished the WoF system, but I'm not overly keen on knowing more cars on fucked tyres will be on the roads in the wet.

[george formby]

The guy that does my warrants is an A grade mechanic , he checks and tells me if he thinks anything is coming up for replacement even though it passes
a warrant, he may say "I think your front pads have got a couple of months left in them". With testing stations you do not build up that relationship you
do with a trusted mechanic and I would prefer someone I trust checking rather than gambling they are a qualified mechanic and not someone who has had 5 years washing cars in the local car yard as their experience to train as a warrant of fitness inspector.

+1 I take the vehicles to a good mechanic. Even though I'm lucky enough to know how to check things on a day to day basis he does a thorough inspection & has given me the heads up on numerous occasions. He ain't the cheapest but has proven time after to be the real deal. No spotty oiks in his garage either, all his lads are good.
I have not read the whole thread but why would anybody want to use a vehicle which is not regularly checked over for safety & reliability?

[kiwi cowboy]

So how do you account for the times that I get bikes in for WOFs where the owners have deliberately tried to hide a fault of their bike?

Fuck thatif they do that there muppets.
my bike don't look flash but I like to think I keep it up to wof standard all the time with checking and welcome the wof guys going over it to make sure im checking it right.
They don't pick up much and if they do its very minor and not really a safety issue.
Having a good relationship with the shop is a help cos they don't try to con ya.