Welcoming the decision by the Transport Secretary to maintain yearly MOT tests, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Party Committee on Transport, Julian Huppert said:

"In 2010 there were 1,850 deaths and more than 200,000 injuries on our roads. That's some 600 every day. With mechanical failure already contributing to a significant number of these, the Coalition Government has made the right decision to keep frequent MOT-tests.

"This will also see the system strengthened through a combination of open public data and stronger regulation.

"Liberal Democrats strongly believe road safety should be central to the Coalition Government's transport strategy. I look forward to working with the Secretary of State to further this agenda."

Last November, in the wake of the M5 crash, Julian Huppert made it clear in Parliament that the Liberal Democrats wanted greater emphasis on road safety, and that the retention of the existing MOT system was a key part of that aim.