Classic Vehicle Threat - EU
I have no affiliation to this political party.
John
Marta Andreasen
UKIP MEP for the South East of England
Defending your interests at EU level Issue 27 - July/August 2012
Welcome to my July/August Newsletter
In this Newsletter we will look at proposed new regulation which would be catastrophic for classic car enthusiasts and the modified car sector in general.
Classic and modified cars threatened by Draconian EU proposal
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We may not necessarily be huge fans of the activities of modified car owners who tear around Sainsbury's car park after dark (apparently this is known as 'Kroozing'), but nobody likes to think that what they chose to do with their cars - provided they are roadworthy, legal and insured of course - is anybody's business but their own. Naturally the EU has other ideas. But it doesn’t stop at modified cars. Theoretically, historic cars (over thirty years old) would be exempted, However current UK exemptions would go if maintenance had been done using no historically-accurate parts. For example, if you replaced the lever-arm shock absorbers on your MGB with safer modern telescopic ones, it would cease to be an historic vehicle.
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I think you would hard-pressed to find any owner of a classic car who hasn’t had to replace a component, say a gearbox, with something more modern, especially if the alternative would be to have a component custom-made to the pattern of a 1930s original. So in effect, classic cars would be subject to the full force of the mouthful that is the 'Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing directive 2009/40/EC' if any modification which varied them from their original specification had been carried out.
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This is just another example of needless meddling and an additional tier of EU Bureaucracy that nobody wants or needs. Just as with the bike legislation mentioned above, this proposal seeks, under the auspices of 'road safety' effectively to curtail the modification of cars. I am of course totally opposed to this on a number of fronts but here are my principal objections: The existing UK system of annual MOT certification is perfectly adequate, and better than many. To bring it under the control of EU Diktat is both unnecessary and an attempt to usurp the functions of our UK based decision making authorities.
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Modified cars - again I stress provided they are deemed roadworthy by the relevant UK authority - add colour and fun to our roads and allow individuals to express themselves, often with entertaining results.
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The EU is seeking to homogenise our cars and bikes, meaning that we cannot change them to suit our needs and reflect our personalities. This to my mind is an attack on a lifestyle for many, and indeed on the huge, economically-important and exciting 'custom' industry.
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The proposals affecting historic cars are completely unrealistic: How on earth can a car of over 30 years old be expected to be kept in its completely original condition?
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Of course modifications of parts can be necessary to ensure a vehicle can run properly! Additionally many would need new fuel systems or engines to ensure that they can run on modern fuels as opposed to the now difficult to obtain leaded fuels and lead replacement additives.
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It goes without saying that I will fight these proposals tooth and nail, as I have done with the bike legislation. I intend to raise awareness in the specialised motoring publications and national and local press, as well as lobbying my colleagues on the relevant Committees here to ensure that this idea is put to the legislative bin where it belongs.
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...01):FIN:EN:PDF
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...51):FIN:EN:PDF
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/...51):FIN:EN:PDF