http://www.ivoac.ca/pn/index.php?name=P ... =4571#4571
Transport Canada - Safety is an Excuse
The Import Vehicle Owners Association of Canada (IVOAC) believes that Transport Canada is using the safety of right-hand drive (RHD) imports as a ‘red herring’ to promote a hidden agenda. At this time there is no empirical or statistical evidence supporting any safety concerns reported from countries that experience high volumes of imported vehicles in which the steering wheel located opposite to domestic norm. With the opening of the highway between RHD Great Britain and left-hand drive (LHD) Europe, a mixture of both driver positions is now common in Europe. Also of noteworthy interest, is the fact that in several RHD countries such as Japan, there is no evidence to suggest that the importation of LHD vehicles from Europe have caused any safety concerns. These findings or lack there of, should be taken into consideration in Canada as well. The IVOAC does not see how we as Canadians could possibly experience such adversely different driving conditions that it constitutes neglecting the consensus already establish by prominent countries such as Britain and Japan. The IVOAC also believes that there is no evidence from any reputable study that RHD vehicles have made the roads of Canada unsafe for the general driving public.
The IVOAC, which was formed in January 2007, is a collection of import owners and dealers, who feel their rights, are being violated by government officials. Since inception, the IVOAC has endeavored to comply with both provincial and federal safety concerns. The members of the IVOAC have worked hard to produce a report and several documents outlining our concerns. This report has been posted on our web site and has been formally sent to Transport Canada. We have also set up a forum on our web site where all members can participate in this matter.
If there is no evidence that RHD vehicles pose any safety risk then why is Transport Canada using this as an excuse? Are unknown parties pushing a hidden agenda? A study by Transport Canada had falsely stated that Australia had changed their importation rules from 15 to 25 years. In fact their restrictions have only been slightly increased on imported vehicles in 2006, as a result of pressure from the major Japanese Automakers and other interests. Is this also occurring here in Canada? Are the domestic manufactures along with their powerful unions behind this? Is the limited number of vehicles being imported by a small number of importers a big enough threat? The IVOAC has not seen anything to provide proof of any safety concerns with regards to RHD, and therefore see any labeling of this issue as a cover for other motives.
Call me BCDelica-less