Québec bans registration of RHD vehicles for 6 months.

[fisetdavid26]

RHD vehicles: No New Registrations in Quebec : MontrealRacing.com

At around noon today one of our members, prelude83, published a forum discussion thread containing a draft ministerial press release that had some very disturbing news for JDM lovers in it. According to the press release, the SAAQ (the Quebec Auto Insurance Board) has banned new registrations of right hand drive vehicles for for at least 180 days while they study the matter further. Apparently these vehicles were deemed unsafe for Quebec roads. Those who doubted him didn’t have to wait long because shortly after the thread was made, the SAAQ itself confirmed the rumor and put out the press release.
Prior to this enactment, it had been legal to import any vehicle fifteen years or older and many companies took advantage of the high demand for right hand drive JDM (Japan Domestic Market) vehicles. Nissan Skylines, Nissan Sylvias, Toyota Soarers, Toyota MR2s and even Honda Civics and CRXs with right hand drive were becoming quite numerous on our roads.
The SAAQ has put word out to its certified garages to not do any inspection for a RHD vehicles as of April 29 2009. Without an inspection the vehicle can not be admitted to the road. The move will not affect current owners of these vehicles who have already had them plated legally or specially certified RHD vehicles such as garbage/recycle trucks, street cleaners or postal vehicles. We can only guess the amount of losses that JDM importers who have shipments of RHD vehicles en route scheduled to arrive after today will have to absorb. Needless to say if the move becomes permanent, the value of the RHD vehicles that made it on the road before the new law will surely increase to the delight of their owners.
Dealers will not be permitted to put x-plates (temporary dealer plates) on any RHD vehicle not registered before today. If you are in the market for a JDM or RHD vehicle ask for the proper documentation to prove that the vehicle was properly plated before the deadline otherwise you’ll be in for a surprise.
The SAAQ is scheduled to remit a reccomendation to the Transport Minsiter Julie Boulet before 180 days. You may wrote to them at the following address to express your concerns:

Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec
333, boulevard Jean-Lesage, C-4-21,
C.P.19600, Québec (Québec)
G1K 8J6

Personally I don't think they are unsafe, granted there are some intersections that are a bit tricky, you can't really see oncoming traffic, even in a LHD car, so they must be ridiculously dangerous in a RHD car... but still, there's generally no drama.

The biggest safety issue with RHD vehicles I think is their owners. I don't want to generalize but most JDM-imported vehicles I've seen were driven by 17-19 y/o's wth tilted baseball cap, diamond earrings and pink Lacoste polos.

Aka douchebags.

And they were driving stupidly fast.

[PRC777]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

RHD vehicles: No New Registrations in Quebec : MontrealRacing.com




Personally I don't think they are unsafe, granted there are some intersections that are a bit tricky, you can't really see oncoming traffic, even in a LHD car, so they must be ridiculously dangerous in a RHD car... but still, there's generally no drama.

The biggest safety issue with RHD vehicles I think is their owners. I don't want to generalize but most JDM-imported vehicles I've seen were driven by 17-19 y/o's wth tilted baseball cap, diamond earrings and pink Lacoste polos.

Aka douchebags.

And they were driving stupidly fast.

Ah, these guys...

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

The biggest safety issue with RHD vehicles I think is their owners. I don't want to generalize but most JDM-imported vehicles I've seen were driven by 17-19 y/o's wth tilted baseball cap, diamond earrings and pink Lacoste polos.

Aka douchebags.

And they were driving stupidly fast.

So, they should ban them for driving not cars based on where the steering wheel is.

[fisetdavid26]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

So, they should ban them for driving not cars based on where the steering wheel is.

I honestly don't know how people manage to get their licenses sometimes.

The sad thing is, people who can appreciate RHD cars will probably have to skip their turns thanks to a bunch of young adults who grew up playing Gran Turismo/watching Fast & Furious and couldn't make the distinction between games, movies and reality and who think you can get 1,100 bhp out of a GT-R by fitting a 'Stage 4' turbo only, like they did in GT.

They better not ban them permanently. I want my goddamn Soarer with the 1UZ-FE V8 for ultimate sleeper status.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

I honestly don't know how people manage to get their licenses sometimes.

The sad thing is, people who can appreciate RHD cars will probably have to skip their turns thanks to a bunch of young adults who grew up playing Gran Turismo/watching Fast & Furious and couldn't make the distinction between games, movies and reality and who think you can get 1,100 bhp out of a GT-R by fitting a 'Stage 4' turbo only, like they did in GT.

They better not ban them permanently. I want my goddamn Soarer with the 1UZ-FE V8 for ultimate sleeper status.

what about NFS then...

I know how certain people manage to get their licenses: with stupidly pointless tests.
What I don't understand is how there are some stupidly pointless tests instead of an actual school where to really learn how to drive, and not how to turn a steering wheel or press a pedal.

[fisetdavid26]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

what about NFS then...

I know how certain people manage to get their licenses: with stupidly pointless tests.
What I don't understand is how there are some stupidly pointless tests instead of an actual school where to really learn how to drive, and not how to turn a steering wheel or press a pedal.

Hooray Finland?

[Ferrer]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

Hooray Finland?

That Top Gear film was enlightening.

They should implement that kind of driving lessons everywhere. The world would be a better and safer place then.

[clutch-monkey]

every second nissan owner is the issue here, the amount of douchetards thinking they're top shit in their R33..

[NSXType-R]

Thing is, douche bags will still be douche bags whether it be right hand drive or left hand drive. It is not exclusive to one side of the steering. Not sure how effective this ruling will be.

[LeonOfTheDead]

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

Thing is, douche bags will still be douche bags whether it be right hand drive or left hand drive. It is not exclusive to one side of the steering. Not sure how effective this ruling will be.

they ruin the reputation of imported cars. ban them.

[pimento]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

...pink Lacoste polos.

Aka douchebags.

And they were driving stupidly fast.

Ban pink polos!

[LTSmash]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

and pink Lacoste polos.

Aka douchebags.

Was the collar in the upward position?

[fisetdavid26]

Originally Posted by Ferrer

That Top Gear film was enlightening.

They should implement that kind of driving lessons everywhere. The world would be a better and safer place then.

Yes, agreed. I would dearly love to see that.

Originally Posted by clutch-monkey

every second nissan owner is the issue here, the amount of douchetards thinking they're top shit in their R33..

Yes, this. R32 here as the R33 isn't 15 y/o yet.

Originally Posted by NSXType-R

Thing is, douche bags will still be douche bags whether it be right hand drive or left hand drive. It is not exclusive to one side of the steering. Not sure how effective this ruling will be.

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

they ruin the reputation of imported cars. ban them.

Originally Posted by pimento

Ban pink polos!

Douchebags are still gonna be douchebags outside of their cars and they are still going to wear pink polos.

We shouldn't ban them then. We need to...

KILL THEM WITH FIRE

Originally Posted by LTSmash

Was the collar in the upward position?

Oh ya, popped collars are required.

[kingofthering]

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

Douchebags are still gonna be douchebags outside of their cars and they are still going to wear pink polos.

We shouldn't ban them then. We need to...

KILL THEM WITH FIRE


Oh ya, popped collars are required.

We can't. They reproduce too quickly.

But if they take one of our privileges away, we'll put two of theirs in the morgue, if need be.

[NSXType-R]

Originally Posted by LeonOfTheDead

they ruin the reputation of imported cars. ban them.

Originally Posted by pimento

Ban pink polos!

Originally Posted by fisetdavid26

Yes, agreed. I would dearly love to see that.


Yes, this. R32 here as the R33 isn't 15 y/o yet.






Douchebags are still gonna be douchebags outside of their cars and they are still going to wear pink polos.

We shouldn't ban them then. We need to...

KILL THEM WITH FIRE


Oh ya, popped collars are required.

Originally Posted by kingofthering

We can't. They reproduce too quickly.

But if they take one of our privileges away, we'll put two of theirs in the morgue, if need be.

I say even better- sterilize them.