Help us plead minibus drivers
Page 18
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EXEMPTION from psv licensing from March 1 and changes the size of vehicles subject to EEC Regulations have been urg4 on the Government.
The call comes from a working party of voluntai organisations running minibuses, in its report "A fare deal fi minibuses".
The working party was made up of representatives from the National Association of Youth Clubs, the National Council for Voluntary Youth Services, the National Council of Social Service, the National Union of Students and the National Association of Head Teachers.
The organisations concerned want to be able to make a reasonable charge towards the cost of running their minibuses without having to obtain a psv operators' licence or road service licences.
To avoid the necessity for certificates of fitness, they also want manufacturers of vehicles designed to carry eight or more passengers to be compelled to build only vehicles which comply with COF conditions from January 1, 1979.
They want all such vehicles to have a COF whether they are operated for hire and reward or not, from January 1, 1985.
Size of vehicle
In the meantime, it has been suggested that the size of the vehicle to be exempted from EEC Regulations should be changed to those seating 1 persons, including the driver.
From January 1, 1978 ape ators of all vehicles adapted t carry 18 or more passenger including the driver, shoul hold a psv licence and COI whether the vehicle is operat ed for hire and reward or not.
Minibuses
The drivers of minibuse with more than eight seats be less than 18 should be allowe to drive under a new certif.: cate of competence whic would be awarded to him afte a proficiency test on the min: bus he would ultimately driv( This would replace a psv driv ing licence for such drivers.
As long as the presen situation prevails, howevei the working party has recom mended that voluntary orga nisations should buy vehicle built or converted to psv spe cification and acquire ps operators' licences, p s licences and psv drivers licences.
The working party als• complained of insurance diffi culties both for psv and fo drivers between the ages of 2 years and 25 years.