Car Law

     Early in the seventies the government enacted a law requiring that vehicles be tested for roadworthiness by qualified mechanics. The legislation was in response to rising consumerism in relation to the less than savoury conditions that existed in the used car business at that time. The testing was to be done in facilities approved by the Ontario Ministry of Transport.
     One benefit of the law was ensuring that unsafe vehicles were not licensed for use on Ontario roads. The effort protected those who were unfamiliar with cars. Those who are the auto-illiterate among us. Bear in mind that was over 35 years ago. A lot has changed in the automotive world since then. The law has failed to keep up. So much new technology has been applied to the modern car; I dare say the act is now obsolete.
     Recent improvements include items such as computerized suspension systems, anti lock brakes, yaw control, traction control, air pressure monitoring, airbags, pre-tensioning seat beats systems, radar controlled cruise control……the list is extensive. For years we in the trade have been asking to have the legislation reviewed and up dated. There are too many gray areas in the current legislation. Too many areas exist where the decision is left open to interpretation, rather than fact. In short the current act needs to be revised.