Fog lifting on the psv licence front
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ESPITE interpretation of the law ultimately being a matter for the wrts, the Department of Transport has issued an explanation in an when a psv driver needs a psv fort to remove confusion over lying licence.
Section 2 of the 1980 Trans)rt Act interprets a vehicle with ght passenger seats as a psv at I times if it is used to carry issengers for hire or reward. Section 3 of the Act defines ree classes of psv — stage, exess, and contract carriage — it these classes are based on e use to which a vehicle is beg put at a given time. A. psv nich is not carrying passengers 11 INDEPENDENT coach firm :s been engaged by the -eater London Council to reace a London Transport ser which has temporarily been verted.
Lacey's (East Ham) Ltd will oerate the service in the Barkg area while an overbridge is :ing built. Normal travel ,ncessions will apply on the ute which has LT's agreeent.
belongs to none of these classes for the time being but is still a psv.
Section 144 of the 1960 Road Traffic Act prohibits the driving of a psv without a psv drivers' licence but schedule 5 (part 1, paragraph 4(c)) of the 1980 Act now adds a new sub-section defining a psv, for the purpose of section 144 to 148 of the 1960 Act, as a vehicle engaged on stage, express or contract carriage.
So, according to the Department explanation, the driver of an out-of-service psv, though the vehicle remains a psv, does not need a psv driver's licence when it is not used on stage, express or contract carriage.
Maintenance and delivery staff who drive off-service psvs for purposes such as testing after breakdowns can continue to drive them on an ordinary driving licence.