Classic vehicles and the EU

[cobham cobra]

This may be a storm in a teacup.
   But just in case it is not please think about signing the e-petition below.
   
   If nothing else than to promote the issue...
   
   It seems the bureaucrats of Europe are trying to stop us using our
   cars. Vehicles over 10 years old are at risk.
   
   Several EU proposals across the years have been a threat to the
   classic car movement. One currently under consideration is to ban
   the use of cars older than 10 years[]. Similarly, Edinburgh City
   Council is considering banning cars over 15 years from the city
   centre.
   
   These, and similar proposals, directly threaten the classic car
   movement and encourage the manufacture of new cars, with the
   attending environmental issues of sourcing raw materials,
   manufacturing and distributing of new cars and scrapping older cars.
   The way govenments/EU like to chip away at our freedoms we
   could end up with expensive scrap in our garages and
   watching DVD's of what it used to be like to drive a classic car.
   
   Please sign the e-petition and spread the word.[!][!]
   
   The address is http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/classic-cars

[administrator]

This is highlighted in the editorial column of the current issue of The Automobile.
   Read it before signing.

[cobham cobra]

I'm not clear what you mean by your comment, can you explain please ?
   I don't have access to The Automobile at the moment, are you saying the petition should or should not be supported or is a waste of time ?
   John.

[administrator]

Quote:
   "Like the secretariat of the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs, we have received a number of exhortations to sign a petition to the Prime Minister regarding EU 'proposals' on banning the use of cars more than 10 years old.  The FBHVC has regular liason with the All Party Parliamentary Historic Vehicle Group and with EU lobbyists via FIVA.  They monitor proposed EU legislation very carefully and have heard of no such proposals in the offing.  Such scaremongering does nothing to help the cause of keeping old cars on the road.  It actually works against the cause.  A half-baked petition with few supporters might suggest a lack of interest.  If any club gets wind of such EU discussions, the proper route for dissemination is via the HBHVC."
   Unquote - The Automobile, March 2008.
   
   Whether you sign or not is up to you.  The ACOC does not have an opinion.  The FBHVC has had a number of significant successes in lobbying Brussels (and Westminster) on old car issues and the ACOC is affliated to it.  The petition is mentioned on page 5 of the Jan 2008 newsletter.
   
   http://www.fbhvc.co.uk/

[cobham cobra]

OK thanks for the response.
   Please feel free to delete the topic if you wish.
   Cheers - John.

[cobham cobra]

Below is today's response from Downing Street.
   The Government's response
   Thank you for taking the time to register your views about classic cars on the Downing Street website.
   
   There is currently no proposal either at EU or domestic level to ban cars over a certain age.
   
   Clearly, vehicle emissions are a concern not just from a local air quality perspective but, increasingly, due to their contribution to climate change. Therefore, the European Commission has proposed setting CO2 targets for car manufacturers, but these would only affect new cars. Also, the targets would be based on averages rather than enforced limits or bans.
   
   There is also no EU or UK policy to provide incentives for scrapping old vehicles. A programme of incentives to phase out the most polluting vehicles was considered as part of the national Air Quality Strategy Review (June 2007). Two scenarios were modelled: the first considered incentives for the scrapping of all cars that were not compliant with the Euro 1 standard, while the second considered Euro 1 standard cars as well as all the pre-Euro cars. This analysis suggested that both scenarios would result in a large net cost to society and represented poor value for money, mainly due to the high cost of useful resources being destroyed (i.e. roadworthy cars being scrapped). This could also involve negative environmental effects, as the petition outlines. As a result, the Air Quality Strategy classified this measure as 'no longer under immediate consideration', which remains true today.
   
   Local authorities are able to develop, implement and manage their own local air quality management schemes, allowing them to focus measures on priorities in their area. The Low Emission Zone (LEZ) operating in London is a prominent example. It currently applies to lorries over 12 tonnes, but will eventually apply to lighter vehicles such as large vans. However, cars, motorcycles and small vans (below 1.205 tonnes in unladen weight) are not affected. For the vehicles that are included, there is an exemption for 'historic vehicles' built before 1st January 1973.

[Mark-Anthony]

Oh Yeah! Sure!
   
   Fellow Classic Car Owners,
   Be prepared to be asked to drop your trousers and bend over the table that is EU legislation.
   
   But don't worry, I'm sure we'll be told that:
   "This is for your own good, and besides, it won't hurt a bit!"
   
   M-A
   CRS #22