Armageddon for modified car owners

[mrmr96]

Rich G said:

mrmr96 said:

JPG said:

mrmr96 said:

Has this story been independantly corroborated elsewhere? Sounds like scaremongering to me at the moment TBH.

The legislation linked in the ACE article is frighteningly real.

But surely this doesn't sound too onerous?

theseoldcars said:

For example: "(9) ‘roadworthiness test’ means a verification that the parts and components of a vehicle
comply with its safety and environmental characteristics in force at the time of
approval, first registration or entry into service, as well as at the time of retrofitting;"

Sounds like you can't make the vehicle less safe than it was when it was made, which won't prevent any sensible mods IMO.
Regards the environmental characteristics, well that is a bit more of a concern. If you just have to pass an MOT emissions test, then no problem - that rule is the same as we have currently. If they are telling you that the MPG has to be the same, then that would be a problem, since most cars MPG will be lower in real life vs. the manufactures claims. Plus performance mods will likley reduce MPG. However, how on earth would you test/enforce that?

What it means is that those disc brakes you fitted to your Morris Minor do not comply with its original type approval so they have to go. Any change away from the original type approval will not be acceptable - even it it were to make the car safer.

What makes you think that? Is that a professional opinion on the practical application of this proposal, or just your uninformed knee jerk scaremongering?

Don't get me wrong, this could potentially be a very serious issue - but it's rather difficult to establish the facts at the moment, isn't it?

[Podie]

The aftermarket parts industry is worth billions - are the EU really going to wipe this out in one go?

[Dan Trent]

Morning all! As per my response to the parallel thread also running along similar lines we're looking into this right now and will report back with a homepage story in due course, hopefully around lunchtime all being well.

Cheers!

Dan

[mrmr96]

Dan Trent said:

Morning all! As per my response to the parallel thread also running along similar lines we're looking into this right now and will report back with a homepage story in due course, hopefully around lunchtime all being well.

Cheers!

Dan

Hi Dan,
I look forward to a non-sensationalist article which will cut through a lot of the BS which is being perpetuated over this issue at the moment. It would be good to see something reassuring, rather than scaremongering - if indeed your findings prove that appropriate.
Cheers

[StottyZr]

This really can't happen. To actually put an end to all car modification in this country is borderline impossible.

[v8250]

Thank you Dan, we look forward to this.

In the meantime could I suggest you/PH get in contact with FIVA and the FBHVC; both of whom will have direct advisory interest with this legislation.

http://www.fiva.org/EN/Contacts/Contact.htm

http://fbhvc.co.uk/contact/

Pls note that FBHVC published the consultation for this policy as of 13th July 2012. It is disappointing they have not made the UK market aware of its' implications.

http://fbhvc.co.uk/legislation/

[henrys revenge]

Podie said:

The aftermarket parts industry is worth billions - are the EU really going to wipe this out in one go?

Stopping people repairing and modifying there old cars will force people to go to main dealers to have the correct light bulb fitted then after 5 or 6 years the car will be uneconomical to repair and have to be replaced therefore making loads more tax billions for a herd of s

Sorry to use the c word

[v8250]

Here's what's at risk in the UK alone.

» £4.3 billion overall value
» Nearly £1 billion in exports
» Over 28,000 people employed
» 57% of businesses are over 20 years old
» 850,000 historic vehicles
» 82% of historic vehicles are used no more than twice a month
» Historic vehicle are responsible for less than 0.24% of overall traffic
» 68% of historic vehicles are valued at less than £10,000
» 4.5 million person-attendances a year at events organised by FBHVC clubs
» 52% of traders expect their businesses to grow in next 5 years

Taken from FBHVC survey 2011 http://fbhvc.co.uk/survey-2011/

[trashbat]

Rockatansky said:

I sort of take your point, but I find it a little too "doesn't affect me so why should I care?" - that sort of attitude is just as scary as that of the EU in the first place.

"First they came.." etc. (Niemoller)

First they came for the socialists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they would have come for the modified car enthusiasts,
but the Working Time Directive 2003/88/EC stipulates a rest of at least 11 hours in any 24 hour period,
so they didn't.

[bigdavy]

Couple of points, firstly this is EU law that is being brought in. If you take the time to read the full document it goes onto say it is the member states responsibility for implementing it. I.E. the EU haven't given a moments thought about how it will affect the uk, or anywhere else for that matter, it's not their problem. The only thing the EU is interested in is standardisation across europe and the way they are doing it is by type approval.
If your car of any age is not as type approved (ie standard) it will fail the test.

They are also skipping the consultation stage by including regulations going as far back as 2000 quoting these previous rules as their consultations, therefore this could become EU law very quickly.

This is not scaremongering, we are signed up to EU law and this is about to be passed unless the WHOLE uk motoring scene bands together to fight it.

Edited by bigdavy on Wednesday 22 August 10:42

[mwstewart]

I'm usually a typical Brit and don't make much of a fuss, but this is something I would be willing to fight for. It's both infuriating and ridiculous.

[StottyZr]

mwstewart said:

I'm usually a typical Brit and don't make much of a fuss, but this is something I would be willing to fight for. It's both infuriating and ridiculous.

I think many people would be in for a shock if the legislation was passed. I've never been to a demonstration in my life, but I would fight for this. I suspect many many would.

[stevieturbo]

230TE said:

Applying this legislation retrospectively across Europe would be so expensive that it would probably bring down the Euro.

Hmmm we might be too late for that one !!

[famfarrow]

mwstewart said:

I'm usually a typical Brit and don't make much of a fuss, but this is something I would be willing to fight for. It's both infuriating and ridiculous.

This.
Waiting on the PH response, hopefully will make it clear what we are facing. If it is in fact what it appears to be just show me where to put my name/ send a letter/ drive my car in a protest. This is madness the EU has bigger problems than Car enthusiasts WAKE UP!

[v8250]

bigdavy said:

Couple of points, firstly this is EU law that is being brought in. If you take the time to read the full document it goes onto say it is the member states responsibility for implementing it. I.E. the EU haven't given a moments thought about how it will affect the uk, or anywhere else for that matter, it's not their problem. The only thing the EU is interested in is standardisation across europe and the way they are doing it is by type approval.
If your car of any age is not as type approved (ie standard) it will fail the test.

They are also skipping the consultation stage by including regulations going as far back as 2000 quoting these previous rules as their consultations, therefore this could become EU law very quickly.

This is not scaremongering, we are signed up to EU law and this is about to be passed unless the WHOLE uk motoring scene bands together to fight it.

Edited by bigdavy on Wednesday 22 August 10:42

THIS +1000.

The driver behind this legislation is vehicle pollution and the ways to reduce theoretical pollution levels from vehicles. The EU have been driving this type of policy for at least 20 years. FIVA published one of their, not so well published, legislative updates in May-June this year. It clearly refers to, but intentionally gives no clear data, the subject under discussion...

>>Roadworthiness testing: Szabolcs Schmidt explained that the anticipated proposal for a Directive to amend the Roadworthiness Testing Directive should be ready by the summer.<< http://www.fiva.org/Downloads/EU%20update%20May-Ju...

Mr. Szabolcs Schmidt is:

Head of Unit, E.1.
DG TREN
European Commission
[e-mail]

[trashbat]

I've read this: http://ec.europa.eu/transport/doc/roadworthiness-p...

I don't understand the interpretation.

EU said:

‘roadworthiness test’ means a verification that the parts and components of a vehicle
comply with its safety and environmental characteristics in force at the time of
approval, first registration or entry into service, as well as at the time of retrofitting

So you're not allowed to make a car less safe, like removing airbags etc., or do anything that for example increases emissions. There is nothing about OEM equipment or maintaining original type approval.

How is this any different to today?

The 'historical interest' bit is a sideshow; its categorisation is tighter, but only relates to exemption from this legislation and not anything you can't do.

I am not a lawyer but I don't understand the fuss.

Edited by trashbat on Wednesday 22 August 11:23

[mat777]

I think it's time we gathered every modified car in the country that can be mobilised, and blockaded the EU London Commission or the Houses of Parliament?

[Art0ir]

Déjá Vu?

[Roy C]

Time to leave, then.


Goodbye EU and thanks for all the,.....


...er,...


...THANKS FOR NOTHING.

[randomman]

mat777 said:

I think it's time we gathered every modified car in the country that can be mobilised, and blockaded the EU London Commission or the Houses of Parliament?

Anyone else with images of a certain scene from Ali G Indahouse??

We could all make one massive... massive. Oh and count me in, my inner rebel has reared his fk ugly head again lately and I'm all up for causing a ruckuss (legally).

I'm up for:

Gridlocking central London, Monday morning 8am
Gridlocking somehwere without congestion charges Monday morning 8am
Rolling Road block M1/M6

If the power of the internet can get rage against the machine to Christmas number one then this should be a piece of perverbial pie.