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Licences for Snow Clearance?

19th January 1962
Page 50
Page 50, 19th January 1962 — Licences for Snow Clearance?
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

NOT only has the weather caused confusion on the roads, but there appears to be a certain amount of confusion in the interpretation of the law about carrying snowand ice-clearing materials. In the East Midland Traffic Area, I understand, there was a " rush" on shortterm licences to cover hauliers wishing to carry salt used for snowclearance purposes, and inquiry reveals that the law, as interpreted in that area, requires a licence for this work.

In the Metropolitan Area how ever, understand much that a mu; wider interpretation is placed upon the matter, although the staff there say: It depends on the individual circumstances."

Reference to snow clearing is to he found in two places in the law books. It is covered very widely in the Thirteenth Schedule to the 1960 Road Traffic Act, which lists numerous cases in which carriers' licences are not required. Clause eight in the schedule reads as follows: "The use by a local

authority, OF a person acting in pursuance of a contract with a local authority, of a vehicle for road cleansing, road watering . . ", etc.

It is also covered under the Road and Rail Traffic Act (Exemption) Regulations, No. 525/57 which says, in Section 2(s), that a licence is not required when a vehicle owned by the local authority, or is contractor working for an authority, is used to distribute grit or salt on roads during wintry conditions.

Putting it into more simple language, as I read these regulations, no licence is required for the actual physical salting and gritting of icy or snow); roads, which is always carried out under the directions of the local authority. But for the carriage of salt or grit (or even sand) from a supplier to a local authority's distribution centre is a different matter and does not come under the exemptions given above, and therefore requires specification upon the licence of a B operator—an A licence holder, of course, can carry out this work without let or hindrance.

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