Increase in the count of vehicles with roadworthiness issues in a given time period
Unroadworthy Vehicles on UK Roads Surge by 50%
The number of motorists caught driving unroadworthy vehicles in the UK has seen a significant increase, with 13,109 penalty point endorsements issued in 2024 compared to 8,614 in 2023. This represents a rise of over 50%, highlighting a growing problem on UK roads.
Central Scotland witnessed a 5% increase, with 46 drivers in 2023 and 50 drivers in 2024. Meanwhile, the East Midlands saw an even more substantial increase, with 700 drivers receiving endorsements in 2024 compared to 374 the previous year, marking an 87% increase.
Driving a vehicle with defective tyres was the biggest reason drivers received points last year. Defective brakes, tyres, steering, and other problems accounted for the majority of the penalty point endorsements handed out in 2024.
The RAC's research found that vehicles fail almost 10 million MOT tests annually, yet more than two in five of drivers polled said their last MOT resulted in one or more advisories. Shockingly, 54% of these respondents admitted they didn't act on the warning and failed to get the problem fixed.
As a result, one in six drivers who overlooked an MOT advisory in the past 12 months experienced a vehicle breakdown or a crash as a direct consequence of the defect raised as an advisory notice by the MOT station.
Experts attribute this surge in unroadworthy vehicles to mechanical faults, insufficient maintenance or repairs, and failures by drivers or operators to identify and address vehicle defects. Increased detection and enforcement efforts may partly explain the rise in penalties, but a substantial number of unroadworthy vehicles are still not caught.
Regional data shows that Greater London has the highest recorded cases of penalty points for unroadworthy vehicles, suggesting urban areas could be hotspots for the issue. Yorkshire and the Humber had the second most drivers receiving endorsements, with a 32% rise year-on-year.
However, some regions, such as Mid Wales and south west Wales, saw a decrease in drivers receiving endorsements. The rise in unroadworthy vehicles has been linked to the cost of living squeeze.
Abir Tewari, UK director of commercial operations at eBay, encourages people to make 'simple affordable fixes' such as replacing wipers or headlight bulbs to maintain their vehicles. RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender stated that the increase could indicate more drivers are running the gauntlet and driving unsafe vehicles.
Experts warn that this growing problem on UK roads represents only the tip of the iceberg, as many unsafe vehicles remain undetected despite failing nearly 10 million MOT tests annually. It is essential for drivers to prioritise vehicle maintenance and safety checks to ensure they are not contributing to this troubling trend.
Read also:
- Condor Reveals Q2 Results for 2025 and Secures a $5 Million Bridge Loan
- More than half of British homes adhere to insulation standards established during the 1970s.
- Transition in Energy: Merz Administration Plans Enactment of Heating Revolution from 2026
- German Obsession with Luxury Vehicles Thriving Amid Traffic Congestion
