During my years of experience working at a car sales site with a big turnover, I just can't agree with woolley that "How many people do you know who are happy to ride around in a death trap? Not many."
I can't agree with MP that "Not many people would be happy driving around in a defective vehicle but there are those who do."
We get loads of dangerous cars in p/x that we crush because it's obvious they are scrap and shouldn't be on the road.
We also get loads of very nice looking cars offered in p/x and upon driving them, have severe and dangerous faults.
sometimes the owners have no idea of these faults, often they are well aware, but still drive them, (with their kids in them) whilst they shop around to swop their car.
I do agree with MP that cars need a biennial test, (I'd have put biannual if I hadn't read the above) but the roadside checks need to be on a selection of cars, not just the rough looking ones. i can't believe how many well spoken, seemingly well educated people don't have their cars serviced regularly and seem fine driving round on nearly slick tyres.