An automobile industry veteran on Tuesday urged drivers to adopt a mindset of "preventive maintenance" for their vehicles, emphasising that regular checks and timely repairs are essential, especially for older cars.

Peter Goh, former CEO of the Hong Kong, China Automobile Association, made the comments after the government announced enhanced measures aimed at improving road safety through stricter mandatory inspections.

The Transport Department rolled out revised rules that classify private cars with any of 13 major defects – such as failed parking brakes or fuel leaks – as dangerous.

Vehicles deemed unsafe face immediate licence suspension and a mandatory re-examination after fixes are made.

"When they take it to the workshop for their regular servicing, it's to actually pre-inspect the vehicle for some of these major items," he said.

"Check the brakes, tyres, the lights, make sure there's no oil leaks, the suspension, the body if there's any rust on it, to make sure that all the rust are not in places where it's critical.

"And try and avoid last-minute pre-inspection where the car is due for inspection and you take it straight in and you've got no time to do any of these repairs."

He also emphasised the importance of keeping detailed maintenance records.

"Keep maintenance records to demonstrate that you are looking after the vehicle," he said.

Goh said the stricter regime will ultimately reduce accidents and protect all road users.

"I think this will actually encourage owners to actually have a mindset of preventative maintenance on their vehicles," he said, calling for enhanced public awareness to ensure vehicles are regularly and properly serviced.