Hi all, am I right in remembering that the jaguar mascot was banned from the uk bonnet(hood) because of safety reasons. In the event of hitting a pedestrian you could do a lot of damage by ripping them open with the jag. And yet in our forum I keep seeing the jag displayed fixed to bonnets. Was it ever banned and if so are there any exceptions for show displaying?

 

In the UK it doesn't comply with Construction & Use Regulations. There are two relevant sections in the statute law:

Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 - Regulation 53 states:
"No mascot, emblem or other ornamental object shall be carried by a motor vehicle first used on or after 1 October 1937 in any position where it is likely to strike any person with whom the vehicle may collide unless the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such person by reason of any projection thereon."

Road Traffic Act 1988 -Section 40A as amended by the Road Traffic Act 1991 states:
"a person is guilty of an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another to use, a motor vehicle.... on a road when.... the condition of the vehicle..., or of its accessories or equipment.... is such that the use of the motor vehicle.... involves a danger of injury to any person."

Jaguar chose to stop fitting mascots to UK market vehicles. Rolls Royce modified the Spirit of Ecstasy mascot to retract on impact.

Are you likely to be prosecuted? The very few reports in the press of prosecutions under Regulation 53 would suggest this is unlikely. However, it does give the police a reason to stop you.

Graham

 

Thanks for your reply Graham. Much obliged. Lee

 

In the UK Some idiot may tell you to fit one and risk it. What are you risking.
You need full approval from your insurance company that you are going to fit a Jaguar Mascot. Without your insurance companies approval your insurance is invalid. Your vehicle under the latest regulations will fail the regulations for MOT approval.
Best of luck and hope you have loads of cash.

 

For a better chance of getting away with it, follow ER2's example and leave the number plates and Tax Disc off:



If the 4 ton Bentley doesn't get the pedestrians, the 10" mascot of St George slaying the Dragon should skewer them.



Graham

 

Relax everyone, I'm not about to turn into Sir Lancelot of the lakeside. Shopping centre.Toyed with the idea of the St George but its weight would take about 5 miles of my litre of diesel, and don't think i would get away with having it like her Maj. has by pleading shes a pensioner and all. God bless her. Many thank. Lee.

 

could someone clarify the bit about MOT regulations please?

 

"Mascots and other external mountings forward of the windscreen are not part of the test"

(Doesn't make them legal, though)

 

So I guess it might be just mentioned on the MOT certificate (if mentioned at all) as 'something-something on the bonnet blah blah blah'... A bit like I had with my Focus on last MOT, 'non standard front bumper' (although they didn't list the rear one for some strange reason) and 'non standard suspension' (coilovers there )

 

Would this count as an MOT failure too?

 

Hello,
Just thought I'd tell you just had my mot and the tester has given me an advisory, he put it down as mascot on bonnet (hood) which is the first time since owning the car for 5 1/2 years something to do with European law.

 

Are there not emblems that are spring loaded and bend on impact ?

 

Does the advisory on your certificate give an MoT Inspection Manual section reference?

The only section I can find in the manual is 6.1 covering sharp edges which refers to body corrosion:

"excessive corrosion or damage resulting in sharp edges which are likely to cause injury"

This should not be interpreted the the tester as relevant to mascots but rigid ones are still in contravention of Regulation 53 of Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.

Graham