I have been driving ambul ancesfor the past nine rears.
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Before that I drove heavy goods vehicles. Sonic of the vehicles which I now drive are up to about 4 tons unladen, so could I claim a transiIlona hgv driving licence in order to obtain a job which requires a Class 3 hgv?
A The Heavy Goods Vehicles (Drivers' Licences) Regulations 1969 made provision for those who had been in the habit of driving heavy goods vehicles for six months between February 2, 1969, and February 1, 1970, to he given an hgv driving licence without having to take a test. This six-month period need not he continuous but could consist of a number of periods added together.
H owever, you say that you have been driving ambulances since about 1965 or 1966 so that to be eligible for a transitional licence it must be decided whether such a vehicle can be classified as a heavy goods vehicle.
The issue of hgv licences is provided for in Part IV of the Road Traffic Act 1972 and Section 124 of the Act provides a definition of a heavy goods vehicle for the purpose of Part IV.
Here an hgv is defined as "a vehicle of any of the following classes which is constructed or adapted for hauling or carry goods or burden of any description, that is to say, a heavy locomotive, a light locomotive, a motor tractor, a heavy motor car and a motor car so constructed that a trailer may by partial super imposition be attached thereto in such a manner as to cause a substantial part of the trailer to be borne thereby".
The only one of these classes to be considered in your case is "a heavy motor car," which can be defined briefly as a vehicle of which the unladen weight exceeds 3 tons. Therefore, only driving of ambulances over 3 tons unladen may be counted provided it can be considered that it is also a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry goods or burden of any description; passengers cannot be considered as goods or burden.
However, ambulances are often used to carry goods or burden as well as passengers — perhaps urgent drugs and medical. supplies of all kinds, for instance. This would appear to confirm that they may be constructed or adapted to carry goods or burden.
On that premise. there seems to be no reason why you should not apply for a transitional licence providing you can persuade your employer to confirm that you have had the necessary driving experience.