MOT special notice 09-18: class 1 and 2 test standard change
Published 22 June 2018
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
1. Overview
The spacing requirements for directional indicators shown in the MOT inspection manual for class 1 and 2 vehicles in Section 4.4.3 are wrong.
This is causing type approved motorcycles to fail the MOT test.
2. Revised test standard
The inspection manual currently says that mandatory direction indicators must have minimum separation distances of:
- solo motorcycles over 50cc: 300mm at the front and 240mm at the rear
- solo up to 50 cc: 240mm at the front and 180mm at the rear
- motorcycle combinations: 400mm at both front and rear
The guidance should say that they must have minimum separation distances between the illuminating surfaces of:
- solo motorcycles: 240mm at the front and 180mm at the rear
- motorcycle combinations: 400mm at both front and rear
Separation distances don’t have to be measured. They should only be rejected if obviously incorrect.
The change takes immediate effect.