Latest figures released by the National Car Test (NCT) show that 50% of cars tested this year to the end of June failed the test. 297,477 of 595,436 cars failed with 2,349 vehicles in a poor enough state to receive a "fail dangerous" report.

The figures went on to show that of the near 300,000 failures 90% of these vehicles went on to get their roadworthiness certificate second time around. The high failure rate is thought to be due to a number of factors. Firstly stricter testing rules coming into force has meant cars have to reach a higher standard. However, the economic downturn is perhaps the major factor as drivers reduce their spending on vehicle maintenance to the bare minimum and are merely using the NCT as a guide to the minimum work that must be done to keep a car on the road. 

The figures do show the deteriorating state of the aging Irish car parc and the number of cars seen as a genuine danger is perhaps the most alarming.