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July 1 for New Artic Age Limits
Page 7
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FROM OUR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT
NEW regulations about driving licences, driving tests and driving fees have been laid before Parliament by the Minister of Transport.
Planned to come into force on July 1, the main changes include a new grouping system for licences, new conditions for L-drivers, a " fine " for people who do not turn up for tests, stricter control of visitors' licences, and some new minimum age requirements for artics and other vehicles.
Age requirements: It is proposed that no-one under 21 shall be allowed to drive articulated vehicles where the tractive unit exceeds two tons unladen. , Under two tons, the minimum age will stay at 17.
Drivers aged between 17 and 21 who at present hold a full licence to drive motorcars will continue to be allowed to drive artics whose tractive unit weighs up to three tons.
Persons between 16 and 17 may be granted provisional licences to drive agricultural tractors of wheeled type under certain conditions, but until they have passed a driving test or reached the age of 17, must only drive on a road when taking, or proceeding to or from, a driving test.
Persons between 17 and 21 will only be able to drive road rollers if they are propelled otherwise than by steam; are under 11+ tons unladen, have hard tyres or rollers and are not constructed to carry heavy loads.
Fees: Driving test fees will in future be forfeited where candidates unable to keep the appointment fail to give the Traffic Area clerk at least three clear days' notice.
L-drivers: Learner-drivers will be able to drive, unaccompanied, an electricallypropelled goods vehicle not exceeding 16 cwt. unladen, provided it is constructed or adapted to carry goods and only one person.
But L-drivers will no longer be able to drive vehicles drawing trailers—except agricultural tractors or artics. They will be allowed to drive, unaccompanied, a road roller not exceeding three tons unladen, provided it is constructed or adapted for carrying goods.
Other changes in this field affect motorcycle combinations and bubble-cars.
Grouping: Separate groups are to be created for motor tricycles (reversible and non-reversible three-wheelers will go into one group), and electric vehicles other than trolley vehicles.
Some of the more important changes include the fact that a test passed on an electric vehicle will no longer entitle a candidate to a full licence to drive a car or lorry.
Present holders of Group A licences will be able to drive non-reversible threewheelers, and G licence holders will be able to drive reversible three-wheelers without further tests.
In the latter cases, licences can be exchanged for a fee of 2s. 6d. if holders do not wish to wait for renewal, which will cover the changes automatically.
The new rules are contained in The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licence) Regulations 1963 and Motor Vehicles (Minimum Age for Driving) Regulations 1963.