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EC test proposals threat
Page 21
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• The bus industry faces a multi-million pound bill for new training vehicles if EC proposals on PSV licensing become law.
The proposed changes will mean the PSV test will have to be taken on a vehicle at least nine metres long and capable of a maximum speed of 80km/h (50mph) requiring many PSV training centres to replace most, if not all, of their vehicle fleets. The current four PSV vehicle categories will be reduced to one.
London Bus faces replacing 70%. of its training fleet, the majority of which are Routemasters which fall outside the new length and speed rules. "It's nonsensical and defeats the objectives of the 1985 Transport Act," says LB. "As well as being very expensive, it's unfair to midibus trainees who do not want to drive, or learn, on a bigger vehicle."
The Department of Transport is adamant that the proposed test changes will not pose a threat to driver or passenger safety. "The handling characteristics of a single and a double-decker are virtually the same, apart from a slight increase in weight," says the Dip. "Provided the driver is aware of the extra height with a double-decker, there's virtually no extra danger. The UK driving test has always been far in excess of the EC's. We will not be lowering our standards in any way."
But PSV training instructor Graham Bailey, of Bailey Bus, rejects the DTp's assumptions: "The difference between an empty over-8.9m long coach and a fully-loaded 12m doubledecker has to be experienced by a driver for him to realise that the handling characteristics are extreme in their variation. The weight alone will go from about eight to 24-tonnes. Drive a modern double-deck 12m vehicle with passengers moving up and down stairs and it will soon be seen just how different the handling characteristics are."
The Bus and Coach Council is lobbying the Government to relax the speed and length restrictions for training vehicles. It is also pressing for a length category of up to 8.5m to be retained.