MOT: Testing times ahead ?

[cobham cobra]

FYI - The following is by Keith Adams of Octane magazine.
   
   Will MoT exemption for classic cars be extended? Will your modified classic no longer be legal? There are concerns that Europe-wide legislation could make this a reality.
   
   European-wide legislation looks set to shake up the MoT system in the UK in the coming years – and if current thinking within the working group comes to pass, then the in-built flexibility of the UK system, which allows certain modifications to road cars, will no longer be allowed.
   
   John Ball owner of MOTEST, based in Farnham, was until recently involved in this consultation process. He told us: 'I have been involved with UK and European vehicle testing policies as a key trade representative, but have stepped down from because of time issues. However I still keep my ear to the ground and this new set of proposals concerning "the periodic roadworthiness tests for road vehicles", needs to be strongly challenged as it applies to our hobby.'
   
   The UK attitude to MoT tests on modified cars has traditionally been a sensible one – and it's basically this. If you have modifications to your car, then as long as they adhere to Road Traffic Act regulations, then they are acceptable for the test. So, if you fit discs to your 1960s Mini or uprated wheels and tyres to your Lamborghini, then you could be potentially driving into a whole lot of MoT pain in years to come, regardless of whether the modification makes your car safer or not.
   
   John Ball fears that the consultation process is being dominated by certain countries, which currently favour the approach that all cars should be OE spec, and must not deviate from this.
   
   He also states that – sensibly – that, 'the definition of a historic vehicle will be 30 years minimum,' but as current legislation is to change in November, exempting all pre-1960 historics from being tested, there's a clear danger that this fixed date will become a 30-year sliding one. As he says, 'so cars as diverse as a Ferrari 308GTB  to an Austin Metro need not be tested?'
   
   John encloses extracts from the text from the consultation document – it has an interesting view of what actually constitutes a classic car, and how they are typically used.
   
       Vehicles of historic interest are supposed to conserve heritage of the époque they have been built and considered to be hardly used on public roads, it should be left to Member States to extend the period of periodic roadworthiness testing for such vehicles. It should also be for Member States to regulate roadworthiness testing of other types of specialised vehicles.
       Definitions – For the purpose of this Regulation the following definitions shall apply: (7) 'vehicle of historic interest' means any vehicle which fulfils all the following conditions:
       It was manufactured at least 30 years ago,
       It is maintained by use of replacement parts which reproduce the historic components of the vehicle
       It has not sustained any change in the technical characteristics of its main components such as engine, brakes, steering or suspension and;
       It has not been changed in its appearance;
       '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
   
   As John summarises, 'if it is as bad as the proposals appear, we all need to unite on this and fight it.'
   
   http://ec.europa.eu/transport/road_safety/events-archive/2012_07_13_press_release_en.htm

[Chafford]

Looks unworkable to me - who's going to have the expertise to determine that the technical characteristics of the steering hasn't changed.
   
   The Federation of British Historic Vehicles will, no doubt, have something to say!

[AE413]

This certainly looks problematic for all except high volume production cars produced since type approval was introduced. Even then there may be variations between assemblies at a detail level below which spares were originally supplied. The French have had a system of type approval since the very early days of motoring, curiously operated by the Dept of Mines.
   
   For cars like ours, made in very small numbers and with bespoke customer requirements fitted by the factory it is hard to see there is a definitive standard of production. Strictly speaking many ACs fail to meet even the MSA criteria for "Specialist Production" due to the very small numbers. However we cannot be alone and the FBHVC are the people to co-ordinate this for us.
   
   John D

[Wally]

Link to feedback form showing some of the items being proposed
   
   http://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/UKVOSA/2012/08/13/file_attachments/149135/120809%2BRWP%2Bfeedback%2Bform%2BV1a.xls
   
   Other interesting reading that will effect all road vehicles in the near future.
   
   http://ec.europa.eu/transport/doc/roadworthiness-package/swd(2012)207-impact-assessment.pdf
   
   http://ec.europa.eu/transport/doc/roadworthiness-package/com(2012)381.pdf
   
   http://ec.europa.eu/governance/impact/ia_carried_out/docs/ia_2012/swd_2012_0206_en.pdf
   
   Wally

[cobham cobra]

This could be bad news for car enthusiasts and the industries that support our passion / hobby. I received an email today with a link to an online petition. While I'm not sure how much an online petition may influence things, it certainly wouldn't hurt to sign it and spread the word etc.
   Thanks – John.
   
   
   From Brooklands :
   
   Worrying stuff  – The latest EU proposal being sneaked into law, putting a ban on modified vehicles, will affect anyone with an interest in kit cars, replicas, modified and even classic cars, needs to be opposed.
   
   Not only would this affect us the owners and enthusiasts, but it could well cause hundreds, if not thousands of small companies (manufacturers, restorers, aftermarket suppliers etc.) to fold.
   
   There's lots of conflicting stories bouncing around on the net at the moment, but to be on the safe side, lets not sit back and hope it goes away. It's important you sign the petition below, before this stupidity goes any further.
   
   
   
   http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37784
   
   PS. Please pass on this e-petition to anyone you know and lets nip this in the bud.

[administrator]

The FBHVC has this on its website, which mentions that at this stage it a proposal only, but is nevertheless serious:
   
   http://fbhvc.co.uk/2012/08/23/eu-roadworthiness-testing/

[cobham cobra]

Noticed this update on the topic on Pistonheads.com
   http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyId=26260
   
   It's taken until today to find someone at the Department for Transport willing to give us any comment. But the good news is you can put down the pitchforks immediately - the EU isn't having its wicked way with your modified car anytime soon.
   
   You can read full statement below - and it won't take up much of your time because it isn't very long. But there's an excellent reason for that, too.
   
   The EU document that's causing all the fuss is, in point of fact, nothing more than what it says it is: a proposal. This means it isn't even draft legislation yet. So what's actually happening at European level in September is merely the opening of the negotiation stage, where all the member states get to chime in and have their say. This is unlikely to be a swift and easy process...
   
   With everything still firmly up for negotiation, the DfT says it is unwilling to get into the specifics at this moment. But it is working with the UK automotive industry - something we can confirm thanks to our colleague Darren Moss at CAT Magazine, who has already been speaking to people in the aftermarket trade - in effort to better understand the impact of what the EU may or may not be proposing to make law.
   
   Darren also points out that many aftermarket vehicle parts are the same OEM bits as those used on the vehicle at the time it was type approved, so there's no issue there. Many others are OES, so even if they're not branded with the original vehicle manufacturers logo, they're the same parts, from the same factory and are of identical quality.
   
   Best of all, the DfT is adamant it will be "pushing back" against anything that has a cost implication for the government, the industry and - vitally - car owners as well. The press office was also keen to explain that EU legislation always takes a long time to go through. If there is a threat, it is very far from being an imminent one.
   
   Perhaps most reassuringly, the bloke on the phone this morning literally burst out laughing when we explained some well-meaning folk fear the EU is attempting to outlaw modified cars entirely. Not a suggestion that this is a laughing matter, but a reflection of how absurd the idea is from any rational perspective.
   
   On the other hand, if you want to make your own views heard, you could always track down Siim Kallas on Twitter, EU Vice President and commissioner for transport. Not that we could possibly condone that kind of thing.
   
   Department for Transport statement:
   "This document [the tendered EU Roadworthiness Package'] is a proposal rather than final legislation. As such, all Member States will have the opportunity to negotiate the final legislation and everything within the current document may be subject to change.
   
   The Department has sought views on the proposals from the industry. We will be analysing the proposals to find out what impact they will have on businesses and motorists. We will question rigorously any provisions that imply costs for Government, people or industry and seek to minimise these. We will be taking an active part in the Working Group meetings starting this autumn.
   
   It is still far too early to comment on specifics of the legislation as a number of the proposals could be changed or dropped."
   
   
   So the govenment is saying there's nothing to worry about at the moment.... . . . . that's OK then - John.[;)][;)]