Gvw-linked driving licences from April 1 for international journeys
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by Johnny Johnson
• The Common Market-type driving licence in which the minimum age of the driver is related to the gross weight of the vehicle (CM July 28) will be enforceable in the United Kingdom, from April 1, next year — only for journeys to Europe but including the UK part of the trip.
It was reported originally that from November 1, next year, 17-year-old drivers would be allowed licences only for passenger vehicles with up to nine seats (including the driver) and goods vehicles up to 3.5 metric tons gross; those aged 18 years would be restricted to goods vehicles not exceeding. 7.5 metric tons (including trailer); and those over 21 years would be licensed to drive any vehicle. The change was to bring section 4 of the Road Traffic Act into line with EEC regulation 543/69 at the same time as the issue of "life" driving licences commences in the UK.
The Department of the Environment told me on Tuesday, however, that there was some doubt about the commencement of the issue of "life" licences from the Swansea computer and the new licences issued in relation to gross vehicle weight would be required by European authorities for journeys to and though their countries from April 1.
Theoretically, Britain has until January 1 1976 to bring its driving licence regulations into line with Europe. Legislation will be needed to achieve this because the present regulations in the UK are based on the unladen weight of the vehicle not on the gross weight as in the Six.
The regulations about driving licences, which are peculiar to the UK, will remain but it will not be necessary to introduce new hgv licence classes. The current proposal is to vary the present classes to take into account the gross weight of the vehicle. The effect will be that np to 7.5 metric tons gross, drivers will he able to drive on an ordinary Part 2 licence, Drivers of vehicles above that weight will require an hgv licence and must be over 21 years of age.
On attaining 18 years, the younger driver will have to apply for his driving licence to be varied to take in the higher gross-weight vehicle (up to 7.5 metric tons).
Because of the time required to bring in the necessary legislation it is unlikely that the new licence regulations would be brought into force before late 1974,! was told.
I asked if there would be any regulation which would prevent an operator from fitting smaller tyres to a vehicle plated over the 7.5 metric tons maximum and having it replated at a lower gross weight, thus avoiding the necessity to employ a driver with an hgv licence. I was told that there was no regulation to prevent this at present and none was proposed. It was pointed out, however, that this should be done with discretion having regard to maximum axle weights. It would also involve a significant loss of payload.
The DoE was in little doubt that, when the time came, vehicle manufacturers would have developed vehicles with the appropriate gross weight to avoid hgv licence requirements.