RAC warns young drivers about deadly vehicles

A Trading Standards' warning to young car buyers about death trap motor vehicles has been roundly backed by RAC Inspections.

Parents and guardians have also been called on to become more actively involved in the used car buying decisions of their offspring.

The Trading Standards Institute worked together with the Hertfordshire police on an undercover operation that revealed five out of eight second-hand lower-priced vehicles were unsafe to drive.

Nicola Johnson, manager of RAC Inspections, said: "Youngsters or first timers looking for a used car bargain are entering a minefield and are unlikely to have the right level of knowledge to know what to look for.

"This is where a mechanically minded friend or family member can help. Better still, parents or guardians would be wise to invest in an independent vehicle inspection which could ultimately save money or even a life.

"Over half of the vehicles we checked had more than 10 faults. Even if they weren't a risk to motorists' safety, over 80 per cent of those with faults would cost more than £200 to fix, a headache a first-time motorist could truly do without."

Peter Stratton, the Trading Standards Institute lead officer for the motor trade, said of its undercover operation and survey: "The poor condition of vehicles is a common contributory factor in road traffic accidents and this new survey shows that there are a lot of death-trap vehicles on the market.

"For every accident we can prevent by urging drivers to get cars checked before they buy, the better."

"It is vital that used car buyers know what to look for, both under the bonnet and externally. Sadly, and more often than not, dangerous faults can only easily be spotted by a trained eye," concluded Nicola Johnson.

For those who have no one to turn to for advice, for just £5 an RAC Car Data Check will establish whether a used car is stolen, an insurance write-off, has outstanding finance or has had previous plates.

As a bare minimum, this could help reduce the chances of a first-time car buyer buying a clapped-out old wreck.