Today's Teaser.

Okay ....... time to take the lid off the worm can.

Method of Inspection 1

With dipped headlamps and the ignition switched on, check

a. the presence, security and operation of the switch

b. the presence and operation of the 'tell tale'

No mention of the fog lamp or lamps.

so you sit in the seat, do the check and all is well with the world.


Method of Inspection 2

With the rear fog lamp(s) switched on check that a rear fog lamp

a. is securely fitted to the centre or offside of the vehicle

b. is working

c. is not obscured

d. is in good condition

e. shows light of the correct colour

f. is not adversely affected by the operation of any other lamp



No mention of ignition on, engine running or any other guidance.........and a completely separate MOI from number 1.


Over to you folks.......discuss.

I would fail if not working with the engine running

It appears the methods of inspection 1 and 2 have been misunderstood 

The tester in method of inspection 1 has been told to switch the ignition on, that everyone will agree on, however by the end of method of inspection 1 nobody will find the written instruction that tells the tester to turn the 'ignition off', now when the tester checks the operation of the fog light switch, the tester is actually going to turn the switch to illuminate the 'tell tail' warning lamp in the instrument display, the tester is not told to switch off the operation of the 'tell tail'. 

Now method of inspection 2 tells the tester, with the rear fog lamp(s) switched on, (presumably from method of inspection 1) check the rear fog lamp is securely fitted, and is working and not obscured along with is in good working order. Now to complete these the tester can use the mirrors, but to check the security the tester must get out the vehicle and check security manually. At no point does the method of inspection(s) tell the tester to turn the fog lamp(s) off, and I have yet to find anything in the regulations that allows more than one rear fog light to be failed, either to the centre line or offside of the vehicle either before or after April fools day in 1980. 

Where we are talking of experienced testers I think that leaving out the MoI in most cases is probably for the best, but for a newer, inexperienced person (that's a generalisation, of course I don't mean all of them) that could raise more problems than it may solve. I certainly know of several who should not be allowed to 'fly solo' in that manner.

Even more reasons to have "hands on" annual refresher training as opposed to the cheaper distance learning.