New law on modifying cars, mowers and...

[Temp]

Just discovered this..

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1520364/driving-law-changes-classic-car-tampering-consultation-fears/amp

 

The Government is currently running a

 public consultation on Modernising Vehicle Standards.

It is aiming to tackle the issue of tampering with vehicles and allow the Government to address existing gaps in legislation. 

The survey also outlines the plans to create new offences for tampering with non-road mobile machinery (NRMM).

Not only would it look to create new offences for tampering with a system, but it would also look to cut down on advertising of such services.

This is being done to help strengthen the Department for Transport’s ability to enforce compliance in this area.

The document reads: “We would look to create a specific offence for supplying, installing and/or advertising, a ‘tampering product’ for a vehicle or NRMM.

“This would apply where a principal effect of the product is to bypass, defeat, reduce the effectiveness of or render inoperative a system, part or component (the product may be a physical part or component, hardware and/or softsoftware

snip

"As they stand, the proposals would stop a competitor from removing the normal seat and fitting a purpose-built competition seat which is much, much safer than the original. 

 

Seems like this could catch a lot of things inadvertently....

 

Bypassing the broken ignition key/switch of a lawnmower.

Can only fit an air/oil filter/exhaust/wipers/tyres that performs as good or better than the OEM part? For example can't use tyres that have a longer life but don't stop as well in the wet. Or a shorter life that stops better.

Disabling parking sensors because a stone chip makes it beep all the time.

Replacing a speed limiter with cruise control by reconfiguring the build spec of the car.

Software mods that improve range but reduce performance or reduce range and improve performance of an electric car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[joe90]

Does that mean I need an MOT for my old ride on lawnmower (with various mods because bits didn’t work ?)

Edited November 13, 2021 by joe90

[Iceverge]

Good luck enforcing that one. 

 

I assume this is in response to some specific instance of someone somewhere taking something too far but the legalities of the situation prevent politicians from pointing a finger directly. 

 

Does anyone know what that instance was?

[Gone West]

I guess it's in preparation for when it's mandatory to build cars with speed sign recognition and speed limiters. Most new cars have speed sign recognition so it's only one more step.

[ProDave]

I really really really can't see anyone taking a blind bit of notice when repairing their mower, or anybody ever checking what you have have done to your mower.  This is aimed at cars and not modifying them, and the NRMM was a one sentence catch all to try and widen the scope.

[SteamyTea]