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Q I am employed as a bus driver by British Railways.

5th January 1973, Page 49
5th January 1973
Page 49
Page 49, 5th January 1973 — Q I am employed as a bus driver by British Railways.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

I passed a test on July 25 1969 to cover Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 11, 12 and 13. On that licence, before the introduction of the new heavy goods ?thick licensing system, I understand that I could have driven a heavy locomotive vehicle. I would also add that I don't have a psv licence and so if I wanted to take a job requiring one as I see it I would need to pass a test.

In my present employment, driving 12seater Transits, drivers are required to fill In log books under the new Road Traffic Act, for hours on and off duty, such as the maximum in one week (60 hours); In my opinion this should entitle us to at least a Class 3 hp. What is your opinion?

A According to Section 117 of the

Road Traffic Act 1960, a public service vehicle is a "motor vehicle used for carrying passengers for hire and reward". Presumably, the vehicles which you drive are not used for hire and reward in which case you do not need a psv licence to drive the vehicles in your present position. If you wanted to take up a job which required you to drive hire and reward vehicles then you would need to take the test.

Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 states, briefly, that it shall be an offence to drive a heavy goods vehicle on a road without an hgv, driving licence. The possession of a psv licence no longer entitles the holder to drive a heavy goods vehicle. However, a driver over 21 years of age whose ordinary driving licence issued under Part II of the Road Traffic Act 1960 has not yet expired is still entitled to drive hgv on that licence.

As your Part II licence has not yet expired you might be entitled to claim exemption from the hgv driving test if you regularly drove an hgv for a period or periods amounting in aggregate to six months between February 2 1969 and February 1 1970. If you can claim such experience, you should fill in form DLG1B obtainable from the Area Traffic Office together with form DLG1 — the application form for an hgv licence — but the experience claimed must be certified by your employer at that time.

The keeping of log books has no bearing on the hgv driving licence requirements, neither does experience in driving public service vehicles or other buses.

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Organisations: Area Traffic Office

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