Jo White, MP for Bassetlaw, has voiced support for integrating wheel alignment into annual MOT tests following a visit to SharkEye Wheel Aligners’ newly opened service centre in Worksop, Nottinghamshire. SharkEye, a leading UK manufacturer of wheel alignment equipment, argues that mandating this check could save motorists billions of pounds while significantly reducing the nation’s carbon emissions.
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Wheel alignment ensures tyres roll straight, reducing rolling resistance and improving fuel efficiency. According to Carl Gibson, CEO of SharkEye Wheel Aligners UK Ltd, including this in MOTs could cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by an average of 8% per vehicle, collectively reducing the UK’s total emissions by 2%.
Gibson emphasised the financial and environmental benefits, stating:
“Mandating wheel alignment as part of MOTs would cut fuel consumption and carbon emissions by at least 8% on average – and save at least £100 a year in fuel costs alone on every registered road vehicle, not to mention tyre cost savings.”
The potential savings are immense. For the UK’s 40 million road vehicles, the collective impact could save billions annually while contributing to the government’s net zero targets.
At the recent COP29 climate summit in Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged a 81% reduction in UK emissions by 2035 compared to 1990 levels. SharkEye believes wheel alignment could be a small but impactful step toward meeting this goal.
Jo White MP, who has pledged to take the matter to government, commented:
“It is all hands to the wheel if we are to meet our ambitious carbon targets. Including wheel alignment within the annual MOT test has the potential to cut fuel costs for motorists and reduce carbon emissions by 2%. This is a win-win situation for motorists and our environment.”
Correct wheel alignment also helps reduce tyre wear, minimising the release of microplastic particles from tyres into waterways and oceans. These particles have been linked to poor air quality and threats to wildlife habitats.
New Zealand’s Warrant of Fitness (WOF), their equivalent of the MOT, already includes wheel alignment checks, and SharkEye is urging the UK’s Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to follow suit.
SharkEye’s new service centre in Worksop not only bolsters local jobs but also positions the company as a key advocate for sustainable transport. By pushing for a simple addition to MOT requirements, SharkEye hopes to make an outsized impact on both the economy and the environment.
