This could be the end

[Ed Doe]

Right, seeing as my boss isn't in the office at the moment, I took the time to read the document they have linked to from the ACE website; http://ec.europa.eu/transport/doc/roadwo...%29380.pdf

I suggest reading it, it's definitely worth it for your own peace of mind, and you may see something I could have missed...

My views on it, complete with relevant extracts of the legislation, are as follows;

Anyone bothering to read this article should start from page 13. The real info starts at page 14, Article 3, Definitions.

The bit I’ve found that appears to be what that ACE website is hanging it’s hat on is the definition of a vehicle of historic interest, and if/how this will be tested;

‘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

As far as I can make out, if a vehicle would otherwise have been classified as a ‘historic vehicle’ is then modified, all that happens is it loses its ‘historic vehicle’ classification, which means it is no longer exempt from the new legislation. As far as I can tell from fairly systematically reading through the proposal linked to from that page, there is NO mention that a vehicle must comply with the manufacturers approved suspension/brakes etc. provided they work as they should (ie the brake efficiency is equal or greater than it should be according to the manufacturer; the suspension should operate (even if it is stiffer than manufacturers specifications; the engine should not fail an emissions test etc)

Here’s more relevant information in the ‘definitons’

‘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’

Page 16 is more relevant to us I think;

4. Notwithstanding the date of its last roadworthiness test, the competent authority may
require that a vehicle be subject to a roadworthiness test or additional testing before
the date referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 (in our case annually), in the following cases:
– after an accident with serious damage to the main safety related components of
the vehicle such as wheels, suspension, deformation zones, steering or brakes,
– when the safety and environmental systems and components of the vehicle
have been altered or modified,
– in case of a change of the holder of the registration certificate of a vehicle.

All that means is when you do a suspension modification, you may need to get it mot’d, IF they decide that is what they want to do. It’s fair game in my opinion; it’ll give people who run around with cut springs less of a leg to stand on when they get caught…
For most of us I suspect all it will mean is we have to wait until our mot is due to put all our shiny new suspension mods on, or we have to pay for a subsequent test which wont preserve the annual date of the test on the vehicle… Not really that taxing imo and it will ultimately make for the roads being safer (if they can enforce it with Police force budget cuts etc… that’s another story!!)

Here’s a bit more;

“2. When carrying out a roadworthiness test, the inspector shall attribute to each
deficiency detected a level of severity and classify it into one of the following groups
:
– minor deficiencies having no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle and
other minor non-compliances,
– major deficiencies that may prejudice the safety of the vehicle or put other road
users at risk or other more significant non-compliances,
– dangerous deficiencies that constitute a direct and immediate risk to road safety
such that the vehicle may not be used on the road under any circumstances.”

Sounds an awful lot like they’re homogenising the mot test across Europe by bringing in our legislation and looking to enforce it more, rather than changing it a whole lot…

It does however appear they are really hotting up on Odometer readings, so those who are changing clocks to phase3 ones *cough* Fooby *cough* had better get it done sooner rather than later, particularly when the mileage is roughly matched! Relevant information on this;

“4. For the purposes of checking the odometer reading, and where this information was
not communicated electronically following the previous roadworthiness test, the
inspector shall require the person presenting the vehicle to the test to show the
certificate issued following the previous roadworthiness test.”

And then further on;

“2. Each Member State shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the manipulation
or tampering of an odometer is regarded as an offence and is punishable by effective, proportionate, dissuasive and non-discriminatory penalties.”

Even if the new legislation is passed; it may not be enforced for a while yet;

“1. Testing facilities and equipment referred to in Article 11 which do not comply with
the minimum requirements laid down in Annex V on [the date of application of this
Regulation] may be used for carrying out roadworthiness tests for a period of not
more than five years following that date.
2. Member States shall apply the requirements laid down in Annex VII at the latest as
from the fifth year following the date of application of this Regulation.”