Government Consultation – Don’t Panic, But Do Read
November 5, 2021
The online world is something of a powder-keg. All it takes is one little thing before it all goes to hell in hand basket, and people start blowing things out of all proportion. This is largely because people like to feel like they’re the victim, when in reality they’re not. It’s also because people don’t chuffing read things fully before they react to them. Instead, it’s far easier to fly off the handle after reading nothing more than a by-line. And that’s exactly what has happened in the last week or so in relation to the new consultation by the Government.
Now, this consultation is… a consultation. It’s not a law, it’s not legislation, it’s not a new ruling. It is the government asking us what we think. However, rather than replying to the consultation through the proper channels, people are shouting about it on Facebook, and that’s not helping anyone. Furthermore, this consultation has nothing to do with classic cars. Having read it at length, it is quite obviously aimed at new cars and new technologies. It is a consultation looking to determine what should be done to stop you, me or businesses from messing with the emission and automation features on new cars. The way it’s worded would very much suggest this is something the Government is looking at in relation to vehicles produced in the future. Nobody is coming for your MGB.
The problem with the human brain is that it has a nasty habit of picking the bits it ‘likes’ and ignoring the rest. So, for example, this consultation states that “We will create new offences for tampering with a system, part or component of a vehicle intended or adapted to be used on a road.” On its own, you could be forgiven for thinking that it means you can’t put a new exhaust on your Spitfire. This is because of the bit at the beginning, that states “We intend to develop a national framework allowing us to adapt the regulation of vehicles. This is essential for the safe deployment of automated and other innovative vehicles.” I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t sound like it applies to my old Rover?
Go past the details in the government consultation, to the point where you can reply, and one of the first lines reads; “A modern framework for modern vehicles – regulating safety, security and environmental performance.” Further evidence that this is being aimed at the production of new vehicles. There is no mention anywhere within these documents about anything retrospective, or about anything we own being restricted. This is not the firestorm that Dave on Facebook is making it out to be. If he wants to believe that Government agents are hiding in his garage, waiting to forcibly take his Capri from him, let him. He’s wrong. Don’t buy into it. Social media is making this worse.
New, modern cars are not like our classics. In order to tamper, as per the vernacular used here, with systems and so on, you do so at the risk of harming so much more that can lead to catastrophic failures further down the line. This isn’t nuts and bolts, it’s code and programming, and when that’s done wrong, it’s not as apparent as when you forget to tighten something up. This consultation is a good thing, because it will stop – by virtue of criminal charges – people from tampering with complicated, highly important systems. You, however, can still put slot-mags on your Morris Minor. It’s fine.
Of course, not to go ‘about face’ on this, there is a need to be aware of this consultation. The wording is deliberately vague and in places, downright wishy-washy. This isn’t down to ineptitude, this is very much deliberate. By being vague, it opens this up to interpretation. That means Dave on Facebook flying off the handle. But it also means the Government can, at a later date, do something that wasn’t explicitly detailed and say “oh, that’s what we meant.”
While this consultation isn’t a threat to classics on its own (well, it possibly impacts companies converting classics to electric power), it is something we need to be aware of. It’s also something that, if you have a working knowledge of these systems and so on, you need to engage with and offer feedback to. You have until the 22nd of November to do exactly that. And you should. It’s the done thing to think of the Government as some sort of oppressive overlord that wants to quash all that we do. The reality though, is that things like this are made by real people who seek your input and advice, so if you can, please offer it. By being vocal, by being engaged and by being the bearers of valuable information, we will help shape the final form this consultation will take when it evolves (if) into legislation. This then has the knock on of arming the Government with more information for any future plans or proposals that may come about that do impact us.
The classic and enthusiast market is a massive, massive part of the UK economy. At the last count, it employed over 34,000 people through 4,000 companies and returned approximately £7billlion. Our environmental impact is minimal. Cradle to the grave on cars that do, on average, 1,200 miles per year, makes for Co2/carbon footprint data that would make a Tesla want to hide. We are important, we matter and we are valuable to the UK economy. Nobody is taking your car away, nobody is telling you you can’t modify it and nobody is going to stop you having fun. Read the consultation, reply to it in an informed and rational manner if you feel you can add something of value, and remember, don’t listen to Dave on Facebook.
