In June 1967, the Department of Transportation announced the initial thirteen highway safety standards had been passed. Focusing on the Periodic Motor Vehicle Inspection (PMVI) standard, the author looks carefully at what will be required by all states to better regulate the mechanical integrity of vehicles. Some states allow private garages to provide and conduct safety inspections while other states mandate state operated inspection facilities. Some states will require expanded inspections beyond the minimum brakes, lights, tires, horns and exhaust systems. The author presents the case that there is a great deal of debate about the benefits of these inspections, the costs of performing them, the integrity of inspectors, the actual value of inspections, and many other issues still being worked out. In general, inspections are a benefit to the motoring public but more research needs to be done to establish the value of PMVI, what alternatives there are and promote a continuing assessment of the program.
Abstract