A study reveals that one in five drivers in Castilla-La Mancha admits to having driven with an expired ITV (vehicle inspection), facing fines of up to 500 euros. The figure sounds alarming, but it's worth asking who funds the study. It is paid for by an association of ITV stations, a private business seeking to justify higher prices and more frequent inspections. Meanwhile, the crisis is tightening, and many drivers cannot afford the inspection, even if their cars are in good condition. The news criminalizes them but omits that ITVs are a business with abusive fees.
The business of road safety: how technology justifies the price 💰
ITV stations argue that their fees cover advanced diagnostic equipment, such as brake testers or gas analyzers, which cost tens of thousands of euros. However, the real cost per inspection is low: a mechanical workshop can check brakes and lights with basic tools for less than 20 euros. The ITV, on the other hand, charges between 40 and 60 euros, and administrative concessions create a local oligopoly. The technological model does not justify the abuse but rather hides it behind a facade of regulatory safety.
With a healthy car and a wallet in the ICU 😅
So, according to the study, one in five drivers is a criminal for not paying 50 euros to a private company that, on top of that, can force you to repair at its associated workshop. But don't worry, the 500-euro fine will teach them to be responsible. Meanwhile, ITV stations are rubbing their hands together: more inspections, more revenue. And if the car is fine, it doesn't matter; what counts is that the driver's wallet is always ready for the inspection. Long live the safety business.