ATTEMPTS TO “soften the cough” of drivers who modify their vehicles to give deep throaty roars – or, more often than not, high-pitched whines – may not be as quickly successful as first envisaged.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) announced the introduction of testing of sound emissions from motor vehicles – along with safety tests on tinted windows and tyre sizes – late last year in a move widely welcomed by those who are annoyed by “boy racers”.
Last September, Noel Brett, chief executive of the RSA, confirmed that under the National Car Test (NCT) contracts currently being negotiated, tests would be carried out on all vehicles in order to ensure they comply with European regulations. The date for the introduction of the tests was given as 2009.
But it has now emerged that although the NCT contract is to be announced within weeks, the necessary changes will be subject to a legal requirement for a “regulatory impact assessment”. The RSA confirmed this week that it would be 2010 before changes would be in place.
Moves to introduce the new regulations in relation to noise, tinted windscreens and tyres come in response to the growing trend of young people, predominantly males, modifying their cars for “cruising” meetings in empty car parks, where their vehicles are put through their paces.
Garda authorities have also expressed concern about tinted windows which prevent officers seeing inside the vehicle. They say this is not restricted to boy racers but is also prevalent on four-wheel-drive vehicles.
The Garda also says enthusiasm for modified cars and “cruising” is at an all-time high, with hundreds of “suped up” car drivers meeting in car parks across the country every weekend to show off their modified motors.
Most cruises are arranged on the internet through dedicated forums or on social networking sites such as Bebo.
