Psv driving age down to 18?
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• The minimum age for psv drivers might be reduced from 21 to 18, and conductors'
licensing might be abolished altogether, Mr Eldon Griffiths, Parliamentary UnderSecretary of State for Transport Industries, revealed on Tuesday. Mr Griffiths was speaking at a meeting at which he received the report of a working party of senior officials of the DoE and the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, set up last November to discuss the proposals in the memorandum "A policy for passenger transport".
The memorandum—a comprehensive survey of the current position of the passenger road transport industry and practical suggestions for adapting services of all types to meet the changing situation—had been conducted by the PVOA. Mr Griffiths congratulated the Association, adding that it was the kind of co-operation which the Government sought from the industry.
Already the Government had taken action to relax the limits on psv drivers' hours; support and encourage traffic schemes giving priority to buses; and issue advice encouraging local authorities to give financial support to rural bus services. It had also, said Mr Griffiths, proposed acceptance of a revision of the minimum fare dividing line between stage and express services from 5p to 11p; accepted in principle as a basis for consultation the abolition of conductors' licensing, subject to legislation; and proposed a scheme for consultation on the reduction to 18 of the minimum age for psv drivers, subject to The PVOA memorandum drew attention to certain features of the working of the licensing system that were causing difficulties to operators. Both the Department and the Traffic Commissioners were anxious to see improvements and the latter were generally ready to accept most of the detailed proposals made, Mr Griffiths continued. The working party recognized that the Traffic Commissioners would always consider individual cases where delays were causing problems to operators. ' In view of the growing involvement of local authorities in public transport which would be increased with the reorganization of local government, the working party had supported the suggestions in the memorandum for local co-ordination of measures to assist rural bus services and for developing the role of county councils. It agreed that local authorities should be reminded of the need to take a more active interest in the problems of public transport.