THE decision by the Government to drop plans to reduce the frequency of MOTs is good news for drivers, road safety and the wider public.

Britain's roads are among the safest in the world and the MOT test has, over the years, made an important contribution to this by ensuring that cars and vans are properly and regularly checked.

Currently, four out of every ten cars fail their MOT and there is evidence that many motorists feeling the financial squeeze have been cutting back on necessary repairs.

While this is understandable, we can't compromise safety, and motorists can save money in the long run by having preventative maintenance done – it does save cash.

So there is little doubt that moving to a less frequent testing regime would have led to an increase in the number of defective vehicles on our roads causing more deaths and serious injuries.

What's more, Pro-MOTe – the campaign we set up with the AA, RAC, road safety campaigners and others to argue for the retention of annual MOT testing – found that the cost to motorists of reducing MOT testing would increase as a result of additional repair and insurance bills.

So, far from reducing the burden on motorists facing rising prices at the pump and other costs, reducing MOT testing would have had the opposite impact to which the Government intended.

And opinion poll after opinion poll has shown that when motorists are asked whether they would like to see MOTs reduced, most say no.

Transport Secretary Justine Greening has wisely listened to these arguments and sensibly decided the existing frequency regime should continue.

But that does not mean the MOT system is perfect and we are looking forward to working with the Government to see if there can be improvements.

We also welcome the Government's focus to improve people's confidence and experience when they have to take their car to a garage.