Page 24 - Apr2022

A Truism: All good t hings, event ually, seem t o come wit h a law.
The mascot was not immune, if fit t ed on a vehicle first used on or aft er Oct ober 1, 1937

(and all laws seem t o come wit h except ions)

In the UK, according to the Road Vehicles other ornamental object? in order to remove any
(Construction and Use) Regulations of 1986, it is suggestion that the provision is limited to objects
illegal to fit mascots to the bonnets of cars due to intended or considered to be lucky.
the damage that they cause to pedestrians in
Then, t here are t he except ions
accidents.
Working temperature gauges like the one pictured
.? (1) Subject to paragraph (2), no mascot, emblem
above on the Morris, are excluded from the law
or other ornamental object shall be carried by a
because they are not ornamental but functional
motor vehicle first used on or after 1st October
pieces of the automobile.
1937 in any position where it is likely to strike any
person with whom the vehicle may collide unless And there are exceptions for placement. In the
the mascot is not liable to cause injury to such 1980s HRH Princess Anne was taken to court for
person by reason of any projection thereon. having a horse mascot mounted 15 inches back
on her Range Rover's bonnet. She won the case
(2) Instead of complying with the requirements of
because the horse was not considered to be a
paragraph (1) a vehicle may comply with
radiator ornament, ergo, not a mascot.
Community Directive 74/483 or 79/488 or ECE
Regulation 26.01. Today, to be in legal use in the UK, mascots
must be fitted with fittings designed to break
A foot note further defines Mascot as the reference
away on impact or be retractable.
to a mascot is extended to ?mascot, emblem or
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