Forum

[RoSy]

The Government’s modernising vehicle standards proposal suggested new offences for tampering with a system, part or component of a vehicle intended or adapted to be used on a road. This could have a hugely detrimental impact on the UK motorsport and custom aftermarket industry.

Modified vehicles that are used on the roads are subject to the same MOT testing as all other road cars and there are therefore adequate safeguards to ensure modified vehicles are roadworthy.

The MOT also includes emissions testing, which ensure that modified cars do not breach emission standards.

Some modifications, such as aftermarket brake parts, can even increase safety and applying any offences to improvements like this would be illogical. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/600954

[Wheaters]

I’ve already signed the petition. I doubt any government would aim to bring in a rule that would destroy an industry that brings in billions of pounds of revenue. Even if they did, it would be impossible to enforce.

[stinkwheel]

They would need to know what standard was before they could decide if it had been "tampered" with.

I find an outright denial that you've done anything confuses police at the best of times.

[rattonshaw]

I doubt any government would aim to bring in a rule that would destroy an industry that brings in billions of pounds of revenue. Even if they did, it would be impossible to enforce.

The industry could be destroyed if you follow the rule of unforeseen consequences. Only after legislation has been passed do other consequences come clear to those who formulated and passed the law. At the time, they probably thought it was a good idea until later when their attention is drawn to the downsides.

Far better to sign a petition well beforehand. I've sent this petition's link to friends and family, most of whom are not motorcyclists, for them to sign,

[Duke of Wybourne.]

Insurance companies have been doing this by stealth for years. Couple this proposed legislation with the sales of new EV's from 2030, if I was in the aftermarket parts/performance industry, I'd be looking at new horizons, and different ways to earn a living. Pretty much like 19th century blacksmiths, and my ancestors who were cartwrights.

[Wheaters]

Far better to sign a petition well beforehand. I've sent this petition's link to friends and family, most of whom are not motorcyclists, for them to sign,

As I wrote first, I’d already signed the petition.

A few years ago a rule was introduced banning “non standard” exhausts and the MOT tester’s handbook was changed to reflect that. However, it was proven to be unenforceable and the rule was modified to allow an exhaust of equivalent noise.

To try and take it much further and provide resources to enforce a ban any vehicle modifications is not likely to happen, especially on older vehicles where original parts are no longer available.

[Duke of Wybourne.]

Far better to sign a petition well beforehand. I've sent this petition's link to friends and family, most of whom are not motorcyclists, for them to sign,

A few years ago a rule was introduced banning “non standard” exhausts and the MOT tester’s handbook was changed to reflect that. However, it was proven to be unenforceable and the rule was modified to allow an exhaust of equivalent noise.

To try and take it much further and provide resources to enforce a ban any vehicle modifications is not likely to happen, especially on older vehicles where original parts are no longer available.

Ha! How many have had a "MOT exhaust" ? I have.

The "enforcement" will be done by insurance companies if you you have an accident followed by a claim, and non standard/unacceptable parts and modifications are found. The assessors love this, and have a large red pen which only writes four letters. V.O.I.D. I don't agree with any of this legislative nonsense, but as usual, the majority are punished as a result of the stupidity and actions of a minority, followed by knee-jerk actions of the incompetent.

[Wheaters]

An assessor can’t possibly know the details of the standard configuration of every single vehicle on the road, especially where the vehicle wasn’t an official import quite legally brought into the country some years ago.

One only has to have a little experience of our own Royal Enfield bikes to realise how many different variants of the same model there are, even of the same year and some of the differences are quite small and subtle.

But again, as I wrote, I’d already signed the petition.

[stinkwheel]

I suppose they pretty much already have this in Germany. While you can modify vehicles, every modification you carry out has to be certified and checked by the TUV and you need a piece of paper for it. Even down to using tyres that were not specified by the manufacturer, I'd suggested to a German VFR owner on another forum that he might like to try a lower profile front tyre but it's apparently not allowed. When you buy a German bike, they usually have a long list of recommended tyres in the owners handbook.

Contrast this to the neighbouring Holland where they don't have MOTs for motorcycles and consider unroadworthy motorcycles to be a self-limiting problem.

[rattonshaw]

For those who've not seen the UK government's response to the petition, it's pasted below.

Government responded:
The intention of the consultation proposal is to prevent modifications that negatively impact on road safety, vehicle security and the environment.
Our ‘Future of Transport’ work is a broad and ambitious programme focused on supporting the industry. The regulatory review aims to ensure our transport regulations are fit for the future.

As part of the Future of Transport: Modernising Vehicle Standards regulatory review, we have put forward proposals to enable Government to better target and prevent harmful tampering with vehicle emission control systems, as well as with safety and security critical systems, parts and components.
We are not proposing that all modifications be prevented, and we recognise there are legitimate reasons why a vehicle owner or business may want to modify a vehicle. Our proposals are not intended to hinder activities such as motorsports, restoration, repairs, or legitimate improvements and alterations to vehicles, or indeed do any damage to the businesses involved in these activities.

Nevertheless, certain modifications can negatively affect the safety and health of the vehicle owner, its occupants, other road users, and the wider population.

Tampering activities that prevent a vehicle’s emissions system from operating correctly, such as the removal of the diesel particulate filter from a vehicle’s exhaust, can significantly increase a vehicle’s harmful pollutant emissions.

Therefore, as vehicles become increasingly automated, we want to prevent alterations to a vehicle’s integral software and sensing technologies which could create safety and security risks. A badly modified vehicle has the potential to kill its occupants and other road users. It is also essential that we ensure modern vehicles remain cyber secure throughout their lifetime, and that any modifications do not make them vulnerable to malicious cyber-attacks.

The MOT test is an important part of ensuring that vehicles on our roads are safe and roadworthy. However, we must also recognise that the MOT test is fundamentally an inspection of a vehicle as presented at the time of a test and can only be a simple check.

There are risks in relying solely upon the MOT test to tackle harmful tampering. For example, it only includes basic checks for the presence and/or function of certain emissions control equipment and is not proof that the relevant emissions standards are being met. It is therefore important that we also have the powers to target and prevent tampering activities that negatively affect road safety, vehicle security and the environment.

We opened a consultation on these measures on 28 September, which closed on 22 November. The Government will consider all responses received and publish a consultation response summarising the responses and setting out the next steps. Any legislative proposals taken forward will be carefully defined so they do not prevent vehicle owners or businesses from making legitimate modifications to vehicles.
Department for Transport
Click this link to view the response online:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petition ... sponse=yes
This petition has over 100,000 signatures. The Petitions Committee will consider it for a debate. They can also gather further evidence and press the government for action.
The Committee is made up of 11 MPs, from political parties in government and in opposition. It is entirely independent of the Government. Find out more about the Committee: https://petition.parliament.uk/help#petitions-committee
Thanks,
The Petitions team
UK Government and Parliament