Vintage trucks transporting jovial newly-graduated high school students, or studenterkørsel as it is locally called, is a familiar sight in Denmark around the end of June, but this could become a thing of the past since the police have announced that they will begin to enforce EU vehicle safety rules.

According to the rules, the old trucks should have speed limit signs attached and equipment to monitor that the driver is complying with drivers’ resting periods.

Allan Snogdahl, the chairman of the vintage lorry owners’ organisation Tungvognshistorisk Forening, told Politiken that some of the vehicles physically couldn’t house the equipment and that the cost of complying would be up to 30,000 kroner.

Morten Messerschmidt, an MEP for Dansk Folkeparti, told Berlingske that it was just another case of EU intrusion. “I think it’s yet another picture of how the EU regulates to an extent, and in a way that is completely unnecessary,” he said.

“Of course there should be rules that ensure safety for freight transport on rural roads, but that the same rules should apply for studenterkørsel is completely laughable.”