Britain’s leading independent road safety charity is warning that some popular aftermarket vehicle modifications are not only making cars and vans illegal; they could also be risking lives.
The Institute of Advanced Motorists has highlighted three of the most common aftermarket tweaks that render vehicles illegal – and noted that people are rarely prosecuted despite the risks to other road users. The tweaks are:
- diesel particulate filter removal;
- fitting xenon headlights; and
- reprogramming or ‘chipping’ vehicle electronic control units (ECUs)
Diesel particulate filters (DPFs) can sometimes be troublesome, especially for van operators making frequent stops in urban areas. Due to the fact the DPF doesn’t run at the optimal temperature in town centre driving, the item can sometimes clog up and fail – causing an expensive and lengthy repair.
Some garages offer to remove the filters, assuring the operator the modification is acceptable – but the result of these back-alley tweaks is to increase deadly pollutants and CO2 emissions.
IAM head of technical policy Tim Shallcross said: “DPF removal has always been illegal but since 1 January 2014 has also been reason to fail an MOT. Some garages are blatantly still doing it. In short – they are selling a service that’s killing people.”
Xenon headlights, when not properly fitted and maintained, can be the cause of accidents. These powerful lights can blind people if not they are not at the correct level.
Lastly, chipped vehicles can be difficult to ensure and cause strain on the engine or the ECU to fail.
In short, if you are going to make any modifications to your car then speak to your insurer, a good mechanic and the online forums before any work is done.
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