25-07-06 Local Garage Receives Prestigious Award
Burns Garage, an MOT garage station based in Rochdale, is set to receive an award after they completed the 25 millionth computerised MOT test. Nominated tester Graham Booth reached the milestone on Tuesday 4 July with the help of a Silver Ford Maverick. The MOT testing scheme is supervised by VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency).
To mark the achievement, a plaque will be presented to Burns Garage at 11am on Wednesday 2 August.
Graham said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked when I found out. I didn’t realise we got through that many tests so quickly! It’s nice to be recognised. All the lads around the garage are calling me sir, and I’m thinking of getting a badge printed with the 25 Million Dollar Man printed on it.
“It helps that the system is so easy to use. If you give it the right information it gives you the right information. Just follow the onscreen prompts and you can’t go wrong.”
This figure of 25 million MOT records on the database is increasing by an incredible 130,000 tests every working day. The 10 millionth test was only completed back on 1 February 2006, showing just how rapidly the scheme is expanding. 100% of garages are using the computerised system, with the old paper-based one now obsolete.
Alex Fiddes, VOSA’s Private Vehicle Director, said: “VOSA and our partners Siemens are very proud to have reached this landmark. However, the real stars have been the staff in the MOT garages, who have adapted quickly to the new system and done their very best to make it a success. This achievement is a great tribute to the hard work people like Graham have put in and the flexibility they have displayed.”
Local journalists and photographers are invited to attend the presentation, which will take place at 11am on Wednesday 2 August.
The full address is:
Burns Garage
Haynes St
Rochdale
OL12 0UW
- ENDS -
NOTES TO EDITOR:
Stats and figures
As of 17 July:
There were 26,376,873 tests recorded on the database
19,314,851 (72%) of these were passes
94.6% were Class IV vehicles (predominantly cars) and 2.45% were Class I &II (motorcycles).
The busiest day so far has been 28 April when 155,635 tests were recorded
The busiest site has been a garage in the Liverpool area who have so far conducted over 23,000 MOT tests using the new system
Since the system went live in garages on 18 April 2005, 18,719 different VTS have spent over 1 billion minutes (1,040,398,214 to be precise) on testing vehicles
Background
Siemens Business Services (SBS) was awarded the PFI contract on 22 February 2000. The contract required SBS to establish a national MOT database and network link VOSA with all MOT Testing Stations.
The system was rolled out with effect from 18 April 2005 to all 18,300 VTSs and other users at a rate of up to 900 sites per week. Roll out entails the installation of the VTS device, the distribution of the new documentation, the collection of unused test certificates and the training of users.
There are many benefits of the MOT Computerisation programme, but the four main ones are:
Improved standards of testing. The ability to monitor the performance of AEs, AE nominees and VTS will help to improve the standard and consistency of testing. Testers will also be provided with information specific to the make and model of vehicle they are about to test.
Reduction in certificate theft, fraud and forgery. A new receipt style certificate is printed at the end of the test, eliminating the need for pre-printed pads of certificates.
Improved consumer protection. Prospective vehicle purchasers can, with the owner’s permission, check both its MOT status and MOT history, including the recorded mileage at each MOT throughout its lifetime. As stated above, there will also be fewer forged documents in circulation.
Improved administration of the MOT scheme. The increased data available on the 30m+ MOT tests conducted annually will enable VOSA to target enforcement and educational/advisory activities more effectively.
VOSA users are able to access the system both via their existing network and remotely, and vehicle data is passed between the DVLA database and the system each day. The data passed from DVLA to the MOT database when a vehicle is tested includes:
• The Vehicle Registration Mark (i.e. the numberplate)
• The Vehicle Identification Number (i.e. the chassis number)
• The make of the vehicle (e.g. Ford)
• The model (e.g. Mondeo Ghia)
• The colour of the vehicle
• The engine capacity
• The type of fuel it runs on (e.g. petrol, etc)
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering bus services
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the supervision of the MOT testing scheme
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards and regulations
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls.
For media enquiries about VOSA and pictures of the presentation, please contact: Zita Galambosi on 0117 954 2561 / zita.galambosi@vosa.gov.uk , or Henry Norman on 0117 954 3438 / henry.norman@vosa.gov.uk
For media enquiries about Siemens, please contact: Stephan Bobinet on 07808 824312 / stephan.bobinet@siemens.com
Page last updated: 03/10/2006