A proposal to require insurance for all propelled machinery, regardless of whether they would be used on the road or not, has been dropped by the Government.
The prospect was raised in 2014 when a man in Slovenia named Vnuk was injured by a reversing tractor with trailer. A European Court of Justice ruling decreed that ‘any motor vehicle intended for travel on land and propelled by mechanical power, but not running on rails, and any trailer, whether or not coupled’ would require insurance, which could affect implements from lawnmowers, mobility scooters and ride-on cleaning machines.
READ: BREXIT ‘PALLETS CRISIS’ LOOMS
However, it was the motorsport sector that feared the implementation of ‘Vnuk’ as it would be difficult, if not impossible to insure expensive vehicles that are likely to crash.
READ: COSWORTH ACQUIRES PERFORMANCE EV FIRM
Grant Shapps, UK’s Transport Secretary, said he will ‘scrap this over-the-top Vnuk law’ so helping British motorists and ‘protecting the existence of the UK’s world-leading motorsport industry’.
The MIA’s CEO, Chris Aylett, welcomed the news. “Thanks to the work of The Secretary of State and his Transport Department colleagues, motorsport in the UK is now safe. However, this is not the case in our major export market – the EU’s 27 countries. The global success of the £10bn Motorsport Valley UK industry, with 40,000 jobs, relies heavily on EU-based suppliers and customers. They could still be put out of business if the EU’s proposed Vnuk law does not exempt motorsport”
“I ask motorsport businesses across Europe to support the FIA, and their ASNs, by asking their own national governments to secure an exemption for motorsport from Vnuk. Our focus should be on rebuilding our sport and industry following COVID not doing battle with legislators!”
For the latest news and analysis from around the aftermarket, sign up to the CAT eNewsletter today
Go to comments