News from the ACE:Start of the end of modification (Read 255 times)

[Damien4884]

www.the-ace.org.uk/armageddon/#more-901

Looks like you'll soon have to have your car tested and approved if you modify it at all (includes current modifications)

For the inspection of vehicles and especially for their electronic safety components itis crucial to have access to the technical specifications of each single vehicle.
Therefore vehicle manufacturers should not only provide the complete set of data as
covered by the certificate of conformity (CoC) but also the access to data necessary
for verification of the functionality of safety and environmental related components.
The provisions related to access to repair and maintenance information should be
applied similarly for this purpose, allowing inspection centres to have access to those
information-elements necessary for roadworthiness testing. This is of crucial
importance especially in the field of electronic controlled systems and should cover
all elements that have been installed by the manufacturer.


Before a vehicle is allowed to be put on the market, it has to fulfil all the relevant type or
individual approval requirements guaranteeing an optimal level of safety and environmental
standards. Every Member State has the obligation to register for the first time any vehicle that
got the European type-approval on the basis of the “Certificate of Conformity” issued by the
vehicle manufacturer. This registration is the official authorisation for the use on public roads
and enforces the different introduction dates of different vehicles' requirements

During a vehicle's lifetime it may be subject to re-registration, due to a change of ownership,
or a transfer to another Member State for permanent use. Provisions on a vehicle registration
procedure should be similarly introduced to ensure that vehicles which constitute an
immediate risk to road safety are not used on roads. The goal of roadworthiness testing is to
check the functionality of safety components, the environmental performance and the
compliance of a vehicle with its approval.

To me it reads like safety systems and enviromental controls will be checked to make sure they still work in a correct manner, much like the change in airbag testing that came earlier in the year. But it will only get worse.

[datman]

I wonder how many accidents are actually caused by or contributed to by cars having been modified, my guess would be not many!

[Negative Creep]

This is on all the car forums, and to sum up - no one can actually confirm what it means. I've heard everything from "all modified cars will be illegal" to "it's nothing to worry about and cannot be enforced"

[RatDat]

The biggest danger of this legislation is that it very open to interpetation, but worse still is it includes the facility for the EC to ammend it at any time in the future without having to run it through Parliament. That IMO is a very dangerous piece of legislation.

[Al Ramone]

bit of an update on the ACE site.

seams like there are some people in power who realise this is BS.
hopefully they will make sence of it.....

www.the-ace.org.uk/put-your-pitchforks-away-and-go-home/

[Al Ramone]

or not.

www.the-ace.org.uk/50-shades-of-grey/

worth a read through just to see how much of an impact the EU can/will have on us.

trouble with this idea is that it would affect all owners of classic cars. whether they're hevily modified, or just have safety upgrades, like better aftermarket lights, brakes, suspension bushes, dampers etc.

this would have a massive affect on the aftermarket suppliers as well as classic car service/repairers/restorers.

[Talking Hoarse]

I cant see how any mods ban (or requirement to examine after any mod was made) could possibly be enforced. So I cannot see how this proposal could work.
For a start, in order to police it, then "someone" would need to have the standard and original manufacturers build spec of every car made - and I dont believe that is realistically achievable.

[gainsb1]

Interesting to read that the FBHVC who organise the National Drive It Day and encourage us to use our vehicles to promote the Classic/Vintage/Veteran car movement have decided to word their Classic car description as any vehicle that only does 1500Km (miles?) or less a year. Well, that gets rid of all those cars that do touring and travel around the country attending shows! They will now have to comply, if this ludicrous idea gets approval. Time to buy a trailer to transport your cars etc. around the country? (I'd feel like one of those "concours" guys... )

For those that haven't read the links, there is more to this..... and it is quite worrying. I suppose that they could put a future cut-off date in place but then the same issue with aftermarket products not being suitable would still apply.

Interesting bit about classic cars in other countries...

"..... each country has its own regulations and you need to go in more depth to understand fully what is required. In general our understanding is that there are situations such as in France where it is very difficult to register a Historic vehicle and general use is restricted to an area equivalent to a county. In Austria you are limited to the amount of days a year it can be used and in Germany it is necessary to notify, in advance where and when you intend using your vehicle (depending in which particular class your vehicle is registered). "

We should be thankful....... for the time being.

Leigh

[Al Ramone]

some further updates on the ACE web site.

www.the-ace.org.uk/the-european-commission-and-roadworthiness/



i know ACE have received some flack about them scaremongering and the like but they seam pretty level headed to me.

I'm glad there are guys out there like ACE who will campaign and voice concerns about issues like this.

[gainsb1]

Datsun Club UK is now listed as a supporter of ACE.

Leigh (Area rep)

[tiagosanttos]

Here in Portugal we can't change almost anything on cars
No coilovers, no bigger engines nor bigger brakes, or change tires or wheels size...its sucks

In classics cars there is no much legislation soo the inspectors have to choose to pass the car or not in the anual MOT, we still have luck in some cases or should i say inspectors...

Fight for your rights there in the UK Good luck to you guys!!!