edical checks on Irivers at 45?
Page 6
Page 7
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• The Department of Transport has published its longawaited consultation paper on revising Britain's driver licensing system.
Proposals include mandatory medical checks for truck drivers at 45 years of age instead of 60; scrapping the appeal system which allows aggrieved drivers who have lost their licence on medical grounds to have their case reconsidered by the Traffic Commissioner; bringing in new HGV licence penalties for overloading, drivers' hours and other nonendorsable offences; lowering the maximum permissible weight threshold for vehicles requiring HGV licences from 7.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes; issuing a single driving licence irrespective of vehicle type; and transferring all NV and HGV licence records to the DVLC computer at Swansea.
The DTp says that our PSV and HGV licence system is out of step with Europe, and "these changes are needed to enable the UK to comply fully with present and forthcoming European Community obligations". The DTp also sees an opportunity to cut costs, and it reckons that "vocational licence holders will benefit from lower overall fees and faster processing of applications".
The Transport and General Workers Union has greeted the document with caution. A unior officer told Commercial Motor that it finds the argument over reducing the medical check age limit to 45 has some merit
from a road safety point of view, but it wants proper compensation for drivers who lose their job as a result. The union has already agreed compensation deals of 28,000 per lost job with some operators.
The Freight Transport Association's initial concerns — which it will highlight when it circulates the details of the proposals to its members for discussion — centre on the plans to take disciplinary powers away from the Traffic Commissioners. "There will clearly be great difficulties in going through the magistrates court," says legal controller David Green.
He also thinks that there is merit in lowering the GVW threshold to 3.5 tonnes to bring it into line with the drivers' hours and 0-Licence rules, though FTA members will want to "study the idea very carefully and make our judgement based on what is right".
The Road Haulage Association finds the 3.5 tonnes pro posal "worrying at first sight". It could reduce operational flexibility and increase costs through higher wage rates, warns the association. The RHA is also "uneasy" about taking away the right of appeal on medical grounds as it could prove unfair if there are conflicting medical opinions. The TGWU calls the appeal proposal "totally unacceptable".
Other ideas in the discussion paper, entitled Setting up a new unified driver licensing system in Great Britain, include the introduction of a standard fiveyear renewal period for drivers of "larger vehicles"; maintaining the powers of Traffic Commissioners to intervene on PSV licences for non-driving offences or unruly conduct; allowing a driving test pass to remain valid throughout the individual's driving career provided the licence is claimed and issued within two years of the pass; and making a car driving pass necessary before moving on to trucks or buses.