Drive it Day 2021 gets the go ahead

This year’s national Drive It Day celebration has been given the go ahead in line with the current government guidelines for classic car owners.

Scheduled for Sunday, 25th April 2021, National Drive It Day was created by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs (FBHVC) in 2005. It is the occasion when historic vehicle enthusiasts and the public at large have the opportunity to celebrate the One Thousand Mile Trial organised in 1900 to prove the viability of the new invention, the motor vehicle.

It’s also a chance to raise awareness and support amongst the public for the historic vehicle movement and keeping transport heritage on UK roads.

David Whale, Chairman of the FBHVC said: “National Drive it Day has its place as a symbolic season opener, a chance to get historic vehicles of all shapes, sizes and types out in use, seen by the public and enjoyed by their custodians. It’s a statement of national importance because, not only does it ensure that our transport heritage continues as a moving, working, living experience, but also raises awareness of the size, importance and contribution that the historic vehicle movement makes to the world.”

This year, that contribution is even larger because the FBHVC has teamed up with the NSPCC’s Childline® to raise money as an integrated part of Drive it Day in order to use our movement to contribute to a section of society that has needed huge help and support during the pandemic – vulnerable children. Lockdown has magnified all sorts of societal problems and the long days and weeks trapped in broken homes or abusive environments have put vulnerable children even more at risk.

Furthermore, the restrictions on social contact and the movement of people have seriously curtailed fundraising efforts for charities across the board and charities have found themselves underfunded, just at the moment when they need the resource the most.

All profits from purchases of the official Drive it Day rally plate go towards the NSPCC’s Childline®.

Sir Peter Wanless, Chief Executive of the NSPCC, said: “We are delighted with the support of classic and historic vehicle enthusiasts in contributing to the work of Childline® in our first year of partnership. This support is especially important at the moment, Childline® is a crucial service on which young people can rely – day or night – whatever problems or dangers they are facing.”

Here is the current position for the UK in terms of attending events:

ENGLAND

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport through the Tourism Alliance has confirmed that at Step 2 of the road map for exit from lockdown applicable from 12th April, an event such as the Federation’s Drive It Day may go ahead providing that:

The event takes place outdoors
Attendees will arrive and leave the event in a staggered manner throughout the day
It does not involve attendees converging on and congregating at a site for a specific discrete activity, such as a theatre ormusic performance
Rule of 6 or two households mixing outdoors applies

NORTHERN IRELAND

The FBHVC is in contact with the Honorary Secretary of the Association of Old Vehicle Clubs and as yet no decision has been made by the NI Assembly regarding opening things up but the Association will continue to monitor the situation and post new information as soon as it is announced on https://www.aovc.co.uk/

SCOTLAND

Travel restrictions are not scheduled to be relaxed until the week after Drive It Day. Enthusiasts have written to the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity asking for an exemption to be made for historic vehicles on Drive it Day.

The FBHVC has also written to the Cabinet Secretary, the letter has been acknowledged as received but as the Scottish Parliament is suspended and in purdah, a reply may be unlikely. If the FBHVC receives further news, it will be published on its news page at https://www.fbhvc.co.uk/news

WALES

Travel restrictions within the UK will be lifted from 12th April.

If in doubt, check the government website for the guidance applicable on Sunday 25th April.

Rally plates can be purchased via www.driveitday.co.uk where enthusiasts may also make an additional donation to the JustGiving page. All profits from the Drive it Day rally plates will go to NSPCC’s Childline®.

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Drive it Day