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Who drives what chaos

6th February 1976
Page 4
Page 4, 6th February 1976 — Who drives what chaos
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

CALLING all operators—anyone driving a vehicle that weighs more than 3 tons unladen MUST have an hgv licence.

CM is spelling out that message loud and clear this week because of the chaos which has hit the industry over the implementation of EEC driving licence regulations.

Many hauliers who had been told by the Department of the Environment that these new regulations (543/69) were being adopted in Britain from January I mistakenly believe that only vehicles over 7.5 tonnes (7.38 tons) gross now need hgv driving licences.

One case has already been reported where a driver of a vehicle over 3 tons unladen has been stopped and threatened with prosecution because he was not an hgv holder.

The FTA confirmed the confusion. A spokesman told CM that "a number of people have been caught with their trousers down. They have invested in these 7.5 tonnes gross vehicles and now find that hgv licences are still needed.

"It is obvious from the number of calls we have had that a lot of operators are taking advantage of a ' law ' which doesn't yet exist."

The weight limit is due to be changed, but the amending legislation pushing up the 3 tons unladen level to 7.5 tonnes gross has not yet been completed. It is contained in the Road Traffic (Drivers' Ages and Hours of Work) Bill which was introduced in the House of Lords in December but has still to go through the Commons.

When it is enacted, the 3 tons unladen standard for hgv driving licence purposes will become a new standard of 7.5 tonnes gross and drivers of vehicles over the gross weight will need hgv driving licences.

For ordinary driving licence purposes, however, the EEC regulations do now apply. Thus a driver of 17 years of age is restricted to vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes; at 18 years a driver can drive a vehicle up to 7.5 tonnes (7.38 tons); and for vehicles over that gross weight, a driver must be 21.

Drivers of vehicles who have been in the habit of driving vehicles outside these age and weight classifications for six months before January 31 last may continue to drive those vehicles, however.

A spokesman for the RHA said it was clear from the number of inquiries it had received that there was a problem. "We are pressing the Government to get on with the legislation."


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