3,000 NCT cars ‘too dangerous to drive’

Over 3,000 cars were slapped with “failed/dangerous” stickers and towed from NCT centres in the first half of this year.

The six-month figures compare to 4,800 recorded for an entire 2014.

Published yesterday by test operator Applus, the statistics also show more cars failed than passed the NCT from January to June.

A total of 822,668 vehicles were tested in the first half of the year, and 419,905 vehicles (51%) failed the test, with some 399,704 (48.6%) being approved.

Meanwhile, test inspectors deemed 3,059 cars to be dangerously unroadworthy.

Of the 418,334 vehicles that subsequently underwent a retest from January to June, 91% passed.

Some 37,284 (9%) failed a second time, while some 545 vehicles were still deemed too dangerous to drive out of the centre.

Cars going through the test this year are 2011, 2009, and 2007-registered models, as well as vehicles that are 10 years old and older.

The AA has previously assured road users that the failed dangerous rate was relatively small in the context of the high volume of NCTs undertaken.

It said it would be worse if dangerous car defects were not detected by NCT inspectors.

The figures for 2015 so far suggest a record number of NCT tests will be carried out by the end of this year.

The number first broke the 1m mark in 2012.

Meanwhile, a new NCT disc was introduced last month by Applus.

The new-look disc is yellow and brown in colour compared to the traditional pink and blue certificate.