DoE suggests hgv licence/ job link
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• A driver without a clean "ordinary" licence may be unable to obtain an hgv licence, if legislation is brought in on the lines which the DoE is suggesting to the industry. Other possibilities for discussion include:— ID Allowing an employee to drive only for the particular employer with whom he has entered into a contract of employment; CI Automatic loss of hgv licence if driver's "ordinary" is endorsed.
However, the DoE on Wednesday turned down proposals—"as they stand"—by the road transport industry for a reduction in the statutory minimum age of 21 for driving rigid heavy lorries "because they would be likely to lead to an increase in road accident casualties".
The industry had proposed—in the interests of staff recruitment—that ISyear-olds should be allowed to drive fourwheeled heavy lorries and that those aged 19 or 20 years should be allowed to drive multiaxled heavies. No change was sought in the minimum age for driving the larger attics.
Instead, the DoE has offered to explore with the industry's representatives the possibility of devising and operating safeguards which would allow a graduated reduction to be made in minimum driving ages without increasing risks to road safety.
It suggests—but only as a basis for discussion—that the safeguards might take the form of an apprenticeship or enrolment scheme for young drivers combined with stringent conditions for the grant and continued holding of drivers' licences by those under 21.