Do's and don'ts of experiments
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NOTES on the operation of the Passenger Vehicles (Experimental Areas) Act, have been published by the Department of Transport.
The Act provides designated experimental areas in which certain modifications to existing bus licensing laws may be applied in relation to the use of private vehicles adapted to carry up to 16 passengers and of commercial vehicles adapted to carry up to five passengers.
With authorisations granted by county councils such vehicles may be used in circumstances that would normally require psv licences.
Preparation, consultation and presentation required before authorisation can be issued, are outlined in the notes which emphasise that the Act is in force to allow true experimentation to gain hard facts of affect of alternative rural passenger transport schemes that at present are not appropriate to psv licensing laws.
Applications to have areas designated as experimental must come from local authorities who must carry out adequate preparation or research before the designation is allowed in the same way as preparations were made for previous Government sponsored schemes.
Safety and insurance guidance is also mentioned in the guide and it is stressed that authorities should check that vehicles to be used will meet the legal obligations regarding insurance.