During the period 1972-1973, NHTSA conducted a vehicle condition survey covering 10,003 vehicles in 6 states. A summary description of this survey is presented in Section 2. ASGI has been responsible for the performance of a comprehensive statistical analysis of this survey data. The primary objective of this analysis was to determine if state motor vehicle inspection policy (MVIP) is a significant factor influencing in-use vehicle condition and to estimate the magnitude of this influence. The overall analysis results indicate that state MVIP does reduce vehicle component outages. Furthermore, a rigorous (i.e. many components inspected) semiannual inspection program as in Pennsylvania produces lower component outage rates than in the annual MVIP survey states (Missouri and Texas) and the random MVIP state (California). For Volume 1 of this report see IRRD abstract no. 229894.
Abstract