BC trying to change import regs from 15 to 25 years

[HeadDamage]

B.C. tries to put brakes on right-hand-drive cars
Last Updated: Friday, December 22, 2006 | 4:44 PM ET
CBC News
They are in excellent mechanical shape with low mileage, but used right-hand-drive vehicles from Japan are raising safety concerns in British Columbia.

Provincial officials are concerned the vehicles might be dangerous in passing situations and have asked Transport Canada to step in.

Mike Woods, manager for vehicle inspections in the province, said that while there's no evidence of accidents caused by right-hand-drive vehicles, officials need more time to determine their safety record.

"There is some concern, and the Insurance Corp. of B.C. is probably looking at that quite closely, and I'm certain that the Insurance Bureau of Canada is also looking into it," Woods said.

Some officials worry the cars may be dangerous when passing because the driver's range of vision is limited on the outside of the road.

All cars imported from Japan —where motorists drive on the left-hand side of the road — are at least 15 years old because federal laws place restrictions on newer cars.

However, B.C. officials have asked Transport Canada to extend that to 25 years in an attempt to reduce the number of right-hand-drive cars entering the province.

About 175 Japanese right-hand-drive cars are registered in B.C. every month — a number that has grown steadily, provincial officials say.

One of them is owned by Thomas Nottelman, who imported his 16-year-old Toyota Corolla and several other cars from Japan. Because Japan has tough mechanical regulations and regular inspections, he said, its second-hand cars are prized.

Many of them have "never seen an accident, they've never seen dirt, they certainly don't have any rust, and they're exceptionally low mileage," Nottelman said.

"So you can't buy anything comparable here, unless you happen to find a little old lady's car."

[John]

Well we knew that was coming!

[rick.m]

i am sure you can thank the USED CAR DEALERS LOBBY for their effort in that reguard, they are very powerful in this province. rick.m

[HeadDamage]

I guess that if someone really want a 90 or 110 they better get one while they can.

[ssortnarg]

Another example of ICBC using a cannon to deal with a fruit fly . ICBC has never been able to perform as a normal business . They will solve any perceived problem affecting .05% of insureds by imposing a new rule that inconveniences 99.95% of their customers .
Thats the ICBC way .
Stopping imports of RHD vehicles will not stop the idiots who drive the rice rockets from driving in an unsafe manner , but in ICBC'S simple minded view of the world , this is a solution .
The first thing we need to do is lobby to have ICBC dismantled or at the very least stop it from confusing its insurance function with public policy . The question of import regulations belongs to the federal government not a bunch of Insurance pratts in North Van .
As long as ICBC continues to function independent of rational oversight , dumb rulings will continue to flow . A industry committtee is needed to control ICBC'S British Shopkeeper mentality (all sales cash = no credit problems) representatives from the Insurance industry , people and cargo transport companies , special use users (4x4 , recreational and collectors ) and other affected groups should be implemented in order to ensure that ther 30 year string of silly rules is brougth to heel .
They won't see the light on their own , write your MLA and MP and have
groups like Roverlanders make representations .

[ANDYD]

Was there any clarification whether the proposed extension to 25 year old RHD would effect the 15 year old LHD vehicles?

[DaveB]

Any ideas who we have to lobby to make this NOT happen?

Dave

[rick.m]

While on the Island this week. I had a chance to chat with a Person involved with the importation of a lot of the Right hand Drive vehicles in question, And He told me the monthly numbers are approx 600 per month. So that gives you an idea why the Dealer Council is a little worried. rick.m

[DaveB]

600 per month?!? Wow, that should be a wake up call, not to the dealer association so much, but to the manufacturers and mainstream importers that they are just not getting it when it comes to what the consumer wants.

If there were diesel powered Land Rover, Toyota and Nissan vehicles available new at the dealership one would think the grey market would dry up quickly.

I live about 1 KM away from one of the bigger importers -- Mustang Parts -- and he's rolling them through their lot like hotcakes. I'm quite surprised at how many RHD vehicles, both trucks and small rice rockets -- and a surprising amount of plain old Hondas, are running around the north Okanagan.

Dave

[Whistler110]

Diesel 4x4 RHD Landcruisers and little vans are becoming quite common in Whistler as well.

[HeadDamage]

Just saw this on BC4x4.com:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l38/h ... letter.jpg

[HeadDamage]

Here is a website about it:

http://www.ivoac.ca/pn/