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EEC rules may lead to psv

11th August 1972, Page 19
11th August 1972
Page 19
Page 19, 11th August 1972 — EEC rules may lead to psv
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

driver shortage says PVOA

• "Looking to the future, unless some change is made, we are convinced that there will be an extremely severe shortage of drivers in the psv industry."

This is the opinion of the Passenger Vehicle Operators' Association, expressed in a statement issued on August 4 commenting on the DoE's announcement (CM July 28) concerning intentions to bring the minimum age limits of drivers into line with Article 5 of EEC Regulation 543 /69.

This Regulation prescribes a minimum age of 21 for driving passenger vehicles with more than nine seats (including the driver), and prescribes three alternative qualifications. viz, (a) a year's experience of driving goods vehicles over 3.5 metric tons laden; (b) a year's experience driving passenger vehicles exempted from the Regulation; (c) holding a certificate of professional competence.

The PVOA says it is inappropriate to regard experience on a goods vehicle as suitable training for psv and that alternative (b) is also illogical. "To suggest," the Association remarks, "that a man may drive buses in a congested city without special qualifications and that this will then fit him for driving in totally different. and usually less difficult, conditions is, frankly, to put the cart before the horse."

Although it accepts in principle the idea that a psv driver should be specially licensed, having demonstrated his corn

petence in the type of vehicle, the Association says that what it fears is the requirement of training and testing likely to be demanded by EEC legislation. "Everyone in this country who has seen the draft directive has been dismayed at the unrealistic demands being made, and we can only repeat our hope that something can be done to obtain a realistic level of driver training within the Community."

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