Q I have been reading recently a book called Lorries and
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the Law by G. Chandler, and I feel that I might be eligible for an hgv licence.
Under the chapter Grant of Licences, the author says the Licensing Authority will grant a licence if the applicant has held a licence of the appropriate class within the 10 years preceding the application.
Surely then the group "a" licence expiring May 8 1970, that I held for the previous 19 years, must be the appropriate class referred to?
A You are not entitled to a heavy goods vehicle driving licence on the grounds that you held, a group "a" licence which expired May 8 1970. You might, however, be entitled to such a licence under the provisions of Section 198 and Schedule 15 of the Road Traffic Act 1960.
Briefly, if you had been' in the habit of driving heavy goods vehicles for six months between February 2 1969 and February 1 1970 and can get confirmation of this from the employer for which you were driving, you are entitled to a heavy goods vehicle driving licence under the transitional arrangements. The six-month period referred to need not be continuous, separate periods adding up to six months in total will be sufficient.
You will need to be in possession of an ordinary driving licence issued under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1972 (previously Part II of the Road Traffic Act 1960), however.
There does not appear to be any foundation for the statement made in Lorries and the Law.