Driver's h.g.v.
Page 36
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licence revoked
• Mr. H. Coleby, of Dunston-on-Tyne, Gateshead, had his heavy goods vehicle driving licence revoked and was disqualified from driving an h.g.v. for one month by the Northern LA, Mr. J. A. T. Hanlon, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Monday. Mr. Coleby, who is employed by McDougall Foods Ltd., of Newcastle, is believed to be the first driver to lose his licence under the new legislation.
Mr. T. W. Langlands, executive enforcement officer for the Northern traffic area, said that Mr. Coleby, together with the transport manager, had made out 24 sheets showing that Mr. Coleby had carried out Sunday shunting. Mr. Coleby had done this because his ordinary driving licence expired on February 5 and in order to gain exemption from the h.g.v. driving test, he had to prove he had been in the habit of driving over the last six months the type of vehicle for which he requires the It had been admitted by Mr. Coleby, however, said Mr. Langlands, that he had never done this work and had not driven an artic in the last six months.
Mr. Coleby claimed that he had filled in the application form almost unwittingly.
Mr. J. A. ' N. Oliver, secretary of McDougall Foods, said that Mr. Coleby had joined the company in 1942 and was, without doubt, one of the best drivers in the
North; he had won the "best artic driver" award in the Northern round of the Lorry Driver of the Year competition in 1963.
The LA said that Coleby had been driving only a six-wheeled rigid vehicle, and had used false records in order to obtain an h.g.v. licence. The proper way to have obtained this licence would have been to take the driving test. Coleby was obviously a good driver and the offence had been committed in foolishness. The three-day-old licence had to be revoked, however.
Mr. Hanlon said this case should be a warning to any drivers who may have been tempted to submit a false certificate in order to obtain a licence. If any other such certificates have been submitted they should be withdrawn immediately, he said.