The number of UK motorists looking to ‘staycation’ this year has rocketed by 75% as Brits scramble to rescue their summer holidays, according to online search analysis carried out by comparison site, BookMyGarage.com.
But with the Government’s six-month MoT extension during COVID-19, and an admission that basic safety checks are not made before setting off on long journeys, millions of cars are potentially unroadworthy.
More than a quarter (27%) of motorists fail to check the condition of their tyres and over half (58%) admit they don’t make sure that their car lights are working properly, according to data from 9,000Â BookMyGaragecustomers.* Annually, one in three vehicles fails the MOT with 10% due to dangerous faults.
The firm also analysed the number of people using the search term ‘road trip’ and found that it had been used 75% more in April 2020, compared with the same period last year. The increase in searches was by far the biggest for the same period in the last five years.
After Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that hotels, campsites, theme parks and zoos could reopen from July 4, one British holiday park owner – Hoseasons – reported a massive surge in interest, with bookings being taken at a rate of one every 11 seconds.
In an effort to bridge the gap, BookMyGarage is offering a free 17-point Summer Safety Check through 850 of its independent and franchised dealer garages. It includes critical roadworthiness checks including all fluid levels, lights, tyres, steering and brake pads. Motorists can book nationwide through BookMyGarage.com.
The Government’s automatic six-month MOT extension – which comes to an end on 1st August – meant that approximately 80% fewer vehicles did not have their annual roadworthiness check completed in April.**
BookMyGarage co-founder, Karen Rotberg, said: “The MOT extension has left many unchecked and potentially unroadworthy cars on the roads but, now that the lockdown is easing, people are starting to plan longer journeys as they look to rescue what’s left of the summer holiday period.
“That makes it all the more important that, in the absence of an MOT and after a potentially long period of time during which cars have been left on driveways, safety checks are carried out.
“There are plenty of checks you can do yourself at home, but we’d always recommend that you have a professional cast an eye over the more safety-critical components on your car.”
*Article Source www.performancecomms.com
