Sir,

The Chairman of the Historic Vehicles Clubs Joint Committee wrote on this subject in your May issue. While I do not doubt that he understands very well what is involved, the brevity of his letter may have mislead your readers into a false sense of security.

The EEC can control our domestic legislation in two ways; either by Regulation or Directive. A Regulation transcends domestic legislation and has immediate effect in member countries. A Directive directs member States to enact domestic legislation in the terms of the Directive.

Transportation is a community matter and subject to both forms of control. Experience of such control in other matters suggests that Regulations or Directives are likely to be made to harmonise safety rules in order to encourage free movement of vehicles. Experience also shows that community rules may be either more stringent or less stringent than the current rules in domestic legislation. In whatever form they take they will ultimately prevail.

Already, I understand, German rules prevent residents there from driving chain-drive cars and subject all vehicles to modern lighting standards. It is just because the Committee has been so successful in this country that our rules are more flexible. The Committee needs all our support in maintaining our good record of safety and the goodwill that has been built up. The widest publicity is necessary for these so that proper pressure can be brought in the Commission when the time comes for community action as, most surely, it will.

Arthur Jeddere-Fisher – Kingston Blount.

[Thank you Sir! This is better than sneering at me because I drew attention to where EEC regulations might land us. I have the greatest respect for the HVCJC.—Ed.]