If your Car Test is due

NCT National Car Test - New Test Items

Following public consultation in 2009 the Road Safety Authority proposed a number of new test items be added to the National Car Test in early 2010. The new test items will improve the safety of vehicles on our roads, both for the vehicle owners and for other road users. The new items will be part of the NCT tests from 1st April 2010.

for your information i am listing the newly adopted additions to the

NCT:

1. Clarity of windscreen and front side windows Excessively tinted windscreens or front side windows present a significant safety hazard for drivers and their occupants. The glass in the windscreen and front side windows will be required to have a light transmission level of not less than 65% in order to pass the test.

2. Rear fog lamp

Rear fog lamps enhance the visibility of a car in foggy conditions by indicating the vehicles position and direction of travel to other road users. The rear fog lamp, where fitted, will be checked to ensure that when in use it provides a red light which is clearly visible.

3. Reverse lamp

The reverse lamp of a vehicle provides illumination to the rear when backing up, and warns nearby drivers and pedestrians of a vehicles backward motion. The reverse lamp, where fitted, will be checked to ensure that when in use it provides a white light which is clearly visible.

4. Tyres

Car Tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road.

The standards to which Tyres are designed and built, is critical to ensuring adequate grip is maintained with the road surface. An "E" or

*e* mark indicates that the tyre is certified to comply with international regulations. A vehicle will fail if an *E* or *e* mark is not visible.

5. Indicator warning of faulty systems for Airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems and Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) / Anti-Lock Brake system (ABS).

Today*s cars are fitted with a number of warning lamps on a dashboard that let the driver know if certain critical safety, performance and environmental features are not working properly. They are important safety features and it is in the interest of the driver and road safety that all safety systems in the vehicle are in full working order.

Vehicles will be checked to ensure that, where fitted, the malfunction indicators for Airbags, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) systems and Electronic Braking Systems (EBS) / Anti-Lock Brake system (ABS) are in correct working order. The vehicle will fail if a malfunction indicator is not working or indicates a defect in the system.

6. Rear registration plate lamp

Rear registration plate lamps provide essential illumination to the registration plate of a vehicle once parking lights are activated. If it is not in proper working order a *Fail Advisory* will result i.e.

it is strongly recommended that the fault be repaired but a failed test will not result because of this fault alone;

7. Vehicle exhaust noise

The nuisance caused by excessive noise from vehicle exhausts is regularly the subject of comments and complaints. Examination of a cars exhaust silencer, and its effectiveness at reducing noise is part of the current NCT. It is proposed to implement a noise check of vehicles that the vehicle inspector deems to be excessively noisy. The vehicle will be required to have a level of noise no greater than 99db in order to pass the test.