Lancia Motor Club

***** URGENT PLEASE READ AND ACT NOW*******

Amendment to the EC Roadworthiness Package for Historic Vehicles - e-petitions

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/37784

The European Commission is proposing to outlaw the use of any modifications and non-original components to historic vehicles by introducing the following legislation;

Periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers and repealing Directive 2009/40/EC"

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.

Please pass on this e-petition to anyone you know and lets nip this in the bud, if you have a contact at other car clubs or sites like PistonHeads, then please make them aware, its no good saying it wont happen cos they are discussing it now have your say before it's too late.........

Guy

Thanks for the alert!Does this apply to all vehicles, or vehicle subject to "type approval" I wonder?richard

Signed this one after a tip off from a friend, though it has no chance of getting the required number (even the return of 25 year free road tax couldn't manage it!).

Does just seem like another load of hot air from the EU. Is the MOT tester going to know/care if you have an original carb on your Aurelia etc. ?

From the FBHVC website.



EU ROADWORTHINESS TESTING
Posted by admin on 23-08-2012

When the European Parliament Historic Vehicle Group (EPHVG) met in May, Szabolcs Schmidt the head of the EC Road Safety Unit, mentioned that proposals for revisions to the Roadworthiness Testing Directive, following a 2010 consultation, were expected ‘in the summer’. In July, the European Commission published the detail which turned out to be a proposal to replace the current Roadworthiness Testing Directive (2009/40/EC) with a completely new Directive.
 
The draft of the new Directive has implications for all motorists, not just historic vehicle owners. Amongst other things, the draft includes requirements to test all trailers (which in turn implies a registration system) and requires tests to make reference to a vehicle’s original ‘technical characteristics’. The meaning of this expression is not defined. National governments are granted the right to make their own testing arrangements for ‘vehicles of historic interest’. A vehicle of historic interest is then defined as one that
 » · Was manufactured more than 30 years ago
 » · Is maintained by use of replacement parts which reproduce the historic components of the vehicle
 » · Has not sustained any change in the technical characteristics of its main components such as engine, brakes, steering or suspension; and
 » · Has not been changed in its appearance.
 
FBHVC considers this definition to be unworkable and completely unacceptable. FBHVC also rejects the suggestion that Roadworthiness Testing should relate to a vehicle’s ‘technical characteristics’, whatever the age of the vehicle. Modifications, alterations and improvements are all part of the history of motor vehicles and the older the vehicle, the more likely it is that it will have been altered at some stage. At present the basic tenet of a UK MoT test is that it is one of mechanical fitness. There is no database of original specifications for UK vehicles, so testing to original ‘technical characteristics’ is simply pie-in-the-sky.
 
Earlier this month, the Department for Transport asked stakeholders for comment on the proposals. FBHVC will be responding formally to this request when further analysis of the detailed proposals has been completed. FBHVC will be discussing the implications of the proposal with the international organisation, FIVA, and through them with the EPHVG group as well as with the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group in the UK.
 
It should be remembered that this is still just a proposal. It has to have approval by each EU member country before it is adopted. Some media commentary on this topic has tended towards the ‘we’re doomed’ end of the scale. It is certainly a serious issue and FBHVC is treating it accordingly.


Don

Thanks for the in depth response Don. Whilst it might be difficult to reach 100,000 signatures I think it's import that we try!

Cheers

Guy