any questions
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No adjustment
Two drivers double man a lorry and each drives two-and-a-half hours to a destination and two-and-a-half hours each on the return, making 10 hours in total. There are no nights away.
The vehicle has a day cab and the passenger seat is not adjustable. This means the man who is not driving is sat bolt upright and unable to relax when carried as a passenger.
Is there any law, including HSE Regulations, which says the passenger seat in a vehicle used for doubledriving should be adjustable?
A There is no regulation
which requires the passenger seat of a lorry to be adjustable.
The only regulation which applies particularly to drivers of a double-manned vehicle is Article 8 of EC Regulation 3820/85.
This states that, in the case of a vehicle subject to that regulation, each of the drivers must have a daily rest period of at least eight consecutive hours ma period of 30 hours. And, like any daily rest period, the rest can be taken in the vehicle as long as it is fitted with a bunk and the vehicle is stationary.
From what you say about the operation in question, it appears the drivers will have no problem in complying with Article 8.
Doubtful eyesight
am over 45 and have been driving rigid lorries more than 20 years without an accident. I don't wear glasses but! can't see too well with my right eye-4 could not read a number plate no matter how close it was My HGV licence is due for renewal in a few months' time. Do you think I will fail the medical and lose my HGV licence ?
A Because you say the sight
in your right eye is not so good it will be assumed that you have some sight in that eye, even though you say you cannot read a number plate with that eye.
It will also be assumed you can read a number plate at the legal minimum distance of 20.5m with your left eye.
Stricter eyesight standards were introduced on 1 January 1997 when the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 came into force.
Regulation 68 states that abnormality of sight in one or both eyes which results in the holder of, or an applicant for, any category of licence beginning with the letters C or D, being unable to meet the required standard of visual acuity, counts as a disability which prevents that person holding such a licence.
Anyone who held an HGV licence on 1 January 1983 and 1 April 1991 who has adequate recent driving experience and has not, in the 10 years preceding the application, been involved in a road accident in which his defective eyesight was a contributory factor, must have acuity (with the aid of corrective lenses if necessary) of at least 6/12 in the better eye or at least 6/36 in the worse eye, or uncorrected acuity of at least 3/60 in at least one eye.
These figures relate to the Snellens' test used by most medical practitioners.
It would be advisable to have your eyesight checked by an optician before you take the medical in October,
Chassis-cab law
Can you tell me what class of licence is needed to drive a chassiscab? Can a chassis-cab be driven in the third lane of a three-lane motorway? What is the speed limit for a chassis-cab? A The new driving licence
law which came into operation on 1 January this year states that a chassis-cab can be driven by the holder of a Category B licence.
Regulation 6(5) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 states that a person may drive an incomplete large vehicle if he holds a Category B licence (other than sub-category B1).
Regulation 3 defines an incomplete large vehicle as: • An incomplete motor vehicle, typically consisting of a chassis and a complete or incomplete cab, which is capable of becoming, on completion of its construction, a medium-sized or large goods vehicle or a passengercarrying vehicle; • A vehicle which would be an articulated goods vehicle but for the absence of a fifth-wheel coupling.
Regulation 12 of the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 and Regulation 11 of the Motorways Traffic (Scotland) Regulations 1995 list four classes of vehicle must not be driven in the right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes. They are: • A goods vehicle with a GVW exceeding 7.5 tonnes; • A passenger vehicle with more than eight seats which has a GVW exceeding 7.5 tonnes; • A motor vehicle drawing a trailer; • A motor tractor or locomotive.
Because a chassis-cab does not come within any of these classes of vehicle it can be driven in the third lane.
Speed limits for goods and passenger vehicles and non-load carrying vehicles such as motor tractors and locomotives are contained in Schedule 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
Until bodywork is fitted to a chassis-cab it is does not come within any of those categories. However, it is still a motor vehicle and is therefore subject to the general speed limit of 70mph on motorways and dual-carriageways and 60mph on other roads.