Compliance, practices, and attitudes towards VTIs (Vehicle Technical Inspections) in Spain: What prevents Spanish drivers from checking up their cars?

Francisco Alonso,Cristina Esteban,Javier Gene-Morales,Sergio A Useche,Amanda N Stephens

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0254823

Abstract

ObjectiveMechanical conditions of vehicles may play a determinant role in driving safety, the reason why vehicle periodical technical inspections (VTIs) are mandatory in many countries. However, the high number of drivers sanctioned for not complying with this regulation is surprisingly high, and there is not much evidence on what kind(s) of motives may explain this concerning panorama. This study aimed to identify the aspects that modulate the relationship between complying (or not) with VTI’s standards in a nationwide sample of Spanish drivers. The study design also addressed the drivers’ awareness regarding different risky behaviors while driving, depending on their sex and their crash record.Methods1,100 Spanish drivers completed a survey on the aforementioned issues. An analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc adjustment was conducted to assess significant differences (p<0.05) in the study variables.ResultsMost of the surveyed drivers (99.18%) reported that they always comply with VTI’s requirements. The main reasons to comply were related to compliance with traffic regulation and fear of penalties, while the reasons attributed to its incompliance are, instead, stated as involuntary.ConclusionThe findings of this study support the idea that more actions are needed to increase drivers’ awareness of the relevance of VTIs for road safety, as well as warning them about the dangers of neglecting vehicle checking beyond merely punishing measures. For this reason and given the greater prevalence of the issue among younger segments of the driving population, it is suggested that more emphasis on the matter could be made during novice driver’s training.

Highlights

IntroductionTraffic road safety has improved in Spain since 2003, to the extent that (partly linked to the recent COVID-19 pandemic), road crash-related fatalities have decreased by about 50% during the last year [1,2,3]
The main reasons to comply were related to compliance with traffic regulation and fear of penalties, while the reasons attributed to its incompliance are, instead, stated as involuntary
The findings of this study support the idea that more actions are needed to increase drivers’ awareness of the relevance of vehicle periodical technical inspections (VTIs) for road safety, as well as warning them about the dangers of neglecting vehicle checking beyond merely punishing measures

Summary

Introduction

Traffic road safety has improved in Spain since 2003, to the extent that (partly linked to the recent COVID-19 pandemic), road crash-related fatalities have decreased by about 50% during the last year [1,2,3]. That impact could be reduced if adequate improvements to the roadworthiness testing system were put in place [21] This technical revision is a legal measure of both prevention and maintenance, which must guarantee that a vehicle complies with the minimum safety standards [22]. In this way, the mandatory inspection of motor vehicles is designed to reduce the economic losses derived from potentially avoidable traffic crashes and to enhance the protection of lives within the road network [23]. Road safety is multifactorial, and it is difficult to isolate the individual role of vehicle inspection in the prevention of road crashes [23]

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Methods

Conclusion