Drivers' licences by gross weight from 1973
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Move to line up with Common Market requirements
• From November 1 1973 the minimum age limits for drivers of certain classes of vehicle will be related to the gross weight of the vehicle, not the unladen weight as at present.
This change will bring section 4 of the 1972 Road Traffic Act (which relates to the age of drivers) into line with Article 5 of EEC regulation 543 /69 at the same time as the issue of ordinary driving licences valid for life will commence in the UK.
Under the proposed new regulation the minimum age for drivers will be as follows: Age 17 1, Passenger vehicles with up to 9 seats including the driver; 2, Goods vehicles not exceeding 3.5 metric tons (tonnes) gross weight (including any trailer); Age 18 Goods vehicles not exceeding 7.5 tonnes gross (including any trailer); Age 21 Any vehicle.
These age changes for ordinary driving licences will affect the heavy goods vehicle drivers' licensing system. A heavy goods vehicle, for the purposes of licensing, will be classified as a vehicle with a gross weight of more than 7.5 tonnes and an articulated vehicle of any weight.
The figures of 3.5 tonnes gross and 7.5 tonnes gross are roughly in line with the present 30cwt and 3 ton unladen weight limits but an exact conversion of tonnes to Imperial tons will mean that where vehicles are plated only in Imperial measures the effective gross weights for drivers' licensing purposes will be 3.45 tons and 7.38 tons.
PSV drivers
Changes are also to be made in the age limits and qualifications required for psv drivers to match EEC regulations.
The changes will apply to drivers of passenger vehicles with more than nine seats, including the driver, except those vehicles on regular services on routes not exceeding 50km.
Drivers to whom the changes apply will have to meet the following requirements: I. Minimum age of 21 years; 2. One year's experience driving goods vehicles or passenger vehicles or; 3. Hold a certificate of professional competence indicating that the driver has had training to an approved level.
From January 1 1976 the following will apply: On domestic journeys — no change if the driver holds the appropriate licence on that date. If a driver obtains a first full licence after January 1 1976 he will need to be 21 years of age or more to satisfy one of the other conditions specified and carry a certificate to this effect unless he is the holder of a full psv driver's licence.
On international journeys — a dri, must be 21 years of age or more and mi
satisfy one of the other conditions speed unless he has had at least one year's drivi experience prior to January 1 1976. must carry a certificate from the traffic at office that he satisfies the conditions or exempt. The holder of a full psv drive licence will not need a certificate.
From April 1 1973 to January 1 197f driver on international journeys who is years of age or more will be exempt frc the other conditions. From January I 19 a driver who is 21 years of age or more a has at least one year's driving experien before that date will be exempt from t other conditions and from January 1 197f UK resident driver will be exempt from t conditions in respect of journeys with Great Britain only if on January 1 1976 holds the appropriate driving licence.
The EEC Council of Ministers intends prescribe the level of training required in lii of experience. It has not yet done so and ti UK will be able to have a say in the level training to be prescribed.
The EEC Regulation, and the measur to implement it, will make no difference the requirement that a driver must hold psv driver's licence in order to drive a ps Once the level of training has been la down by the Council of Ministers it ME become necessary to restrict a psv driver licences to services excluded from the scot of EEC Regulation 543 /69 in the case any driver who has not yet achieved th; level or, alternatively, obtained the requisi driving experience.