HGV licence law stays
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• The Government is to fight European Community-backed plans to reduce the threshold for HGV driving licences from 7.5 tonnes to 3.5 tonnes.
Britain's 7.5-tonne breakpoint "will be preserved in the new licensing system," says Roads and Traffic Minister Peter Bottomley. The Department of Transport's defence of the 7.5-tonne threshold seems to be in conflict with the consultation paper it sent out at the beginning of this year which stated "these changes are needed to enable the United Kingdom to comply fully with present and forthcoming Community obligations."
The Freight Transport Association and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders both rejected a lower HGV weight limit on the basis that such a change would add considerably to industry's labour costs, and would disrupt demand for 7.49-tonners.
Bringing the limit down to 3.5 tonnes would not improve road safety says the FTA, but it would mean that hauliers would have to pay higher wages. Hired trucks in the 3.57.5-tonne GVW bracket would also need HGV drivers.
The Road Haulage Association disagrees. It believes that the Government's decision is "an opportunity missed" to improve road safety in the road haulage industry. The RHA does not like the high number of inexperienced, inadequately trained drivers who take on hired box vans and 7.49-tonne GVW trucks. Their inability to drive these vehicles properly does not enhance the image of the haulage industry, says the RHA, which strongly supported the 3.5 tonne move.
Minibus drivers particularly objected to the proposal that nine to 16-seat vehicles should need a PSV licence as opposed to a car licence. This would create serious difficulties for schools, charities and voluntary organisations, they claim.
In reply to a Parliamentary question in the Commons this week, Bottomley also said: "The idea of a single licence showing all driving entitlement was favourably received. Support for the traffic commissioners retaining responsibility for the conduct of vocational drivers was virtually unanimous. Some reservations were expressed about the proposal to bring the level of medical checks for HGV drivers into line with those that presently apply to drivers of public service vehicles."