Fears of a Brexit betrayal have erupted after plans emerged for new British cars to be fitted with breathalyser technology, which aligns with EU rules. The Government insisted that adopting the same vehicle safety laws as the bloc will keep costs down, but Brexit supporters have said it is part of a ploy to take Britain closer to the European Union.
Car manufacturers have been told by the Department for Transport that it is committed to presumed alignment. It means they won’t have to make cars which comply with different rules for EU and UK markets. A Government spokesman told the Telegraph that after the UK’s exit from the EU, differences between British and EU regulations mean some manufacturers make cars specifically for the UK market.
He added: “This can add costs to the manufacturing process, which are liable to be passed onto GB consumers, so we’re considering aligning with EU car safety regulations to keep car prices down.”
Rules diverged between the UK and EU after 2022 when the bloc introduced the General Safety Regulation 2 (GSR2).
It introduced mandatory safety features for new vehicles, including technology that warns drivers when they are getting drowsy. Driver Drowsiness Warning uses technology that monitors drivers and alerts them if they appear to be sleepy.
All newly manufactured vehicles since July last year also have to include a pre-installed system which stops them working if the driver fails a built in breathalyser test.
The Government maintained that by aligning with EU rules, Britain’s internal car market will be protected and buyers in Northern Ireland can still buy from Great Britain.
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said regulatory alignment supports efficient production, keeps costs down for consumers, and retains the widest possible choice of models.
Industry sources cited by the Telegraph have reportedly said there is evidence manufacturers have already started making cars solely for the UK market.
Brexiteers have told the publication this proves divergence can work and accused the Government of “alignment by stealth”.
The Government has used statutory instruments to update legislation to reflect EU changes to regulations already on UK statute books.
Former Conservative leader, Sir Iain Duncan Smith, accused the Government of using statutory instruments to sneak changes through because they don’t end up being debated.
He warned: “This is a game being played out where they keep incrementally moving back towards the European Union. This is their plan. This is not a one-off.”
Mark Francois, who chairs the Conservative European Research Group, said: “This is still rule-taking from the EU, however you try and dress it up.
“Our car industry is already under massive pressure from Chinese dumping of electric vehicles on world markets so something which stifles domestic innovation and adds to regulatory burdens hardly helps.”