MOT and windscreen satnav holder

It depends where you stick it.

Episode One gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

It was probably obstructing the driver's vision.

They're allowed to be sold because the manufacturers presume that the driver will have enough gumption to stick it somewhere it doesn't block their view. A forlorn hope, I know, given the number of f*****ts seen on the roads with them stuck slap bang in front of their noses.

Seems reasonable if the holder was interfering with vision by the stds of the MOT.

They don't have to be stuck on the screen in a place where they interfere with safe vision. IMO the satnav screen, sucker etc, should be below normal eye level.

Why should that make any difference? Mike.

The tester may not have been able to ascertain whether there was any damage under the holder, for example a stone chip.

Regards

Tom

I'm constantly amazed at the number of people who think the middle of the windcreen, either 6in above the dash, or 6in below the rear view mirror is acceptable placement.

I've had satnav for years now - in fact, I had GPS before SatNav existed

- but I've always mounted it to the right of the steering wheel, as low down as possible, so it effectively becomes an extension of the instrument pod.

"Miike G" gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

I tend to put 'em in the very top left corner of the 'screen. Out of normal eyeline, least likely to interfere with anything visually, but quick and easy to glance at.

I know bent MOT testers are pretty rare these days but I (naively) thought there was zero chance of finding one at a main dealer.

Same here. I mount mine at the bottom r/h side of the w/s, so it doesn't create a dangerous blind spot. I also only use the voice feature to guide me, so don't need to look at the screen whilst driving. Mike.

Possibly a touch overzealous, but within his rights, as it obscures your view of the road. It depends on the position and the tester's opinion as to whether it is a "significant" obstruction of youre view.

Also, technically, the MOT garage are not allowed to perform any work on the vehicle during the test, so they should have given you the opportunity to remove it before issuing a certificate.

Technically, you are breaking the law by fixing *anything* not of an officially approved nature to your windscreen. In practice, the roadside enforcement agencies ignore anything that does not cause any danger, in the opinion of the person doing the enforcement.

RHD/LHD ? Which?

It is indeed correct. Basically anything which obscures vision through the swept area the wiper blades cover is illegal.

They're allowed to be sold the same way illegal numberplates are. The items themselves are not illegal, just the way they're used.

we have to test vehicles as presented & if it had a sat nav holder or any other object (including furry dice & smelly trees from the mirror) in the drivers view per the mot testers manual he should have failed it or at least issued a P.R.S. we are not allowed to remove the items prior to the test thats down to the vehicle presenter.

but i know how he feels, i must get 2 or 3 a day with stuff hanging from the mirror or stuck on the screen & give the vehicle presenter the option of removing before the test.

In that position you will not be able to benefit from a passenger using it on the fly.

My holder is in the bottom centre of the windscreen. It completely blocks my view of part of the bonnet of my car. Thus the only road users that it can prevent me seeing are small ones that I have already collided with.

Not over zealous at all. Every VOSA inspector at roadside checkpoints pull you up for them.

John Williamson gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Bearing in mind the tester probably didn't see the car before the OP had left the garage, I don't think any reasonable person would have a problem with "If that was left there, it'd have failed, so I removed it". It really is the common-sense approach from the tester.

Episode One gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

The only thing that the tester did that wasn't by the book was to remove it and pass the car. That's called "doing you a favour". Next time, I hope he doesn't bother.

That is exactly where mine is (Puggy 206). I can't see that it was blocking anything but I'm not going to argue with an MOT tester.

the snipped-for-privacy@gmail.com gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

RHD.

Well they're supposed to ask you if you want to remove it, they might have made a radical ssumption.