Drop age limit, say dairymen
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• A request has been made this week to the Ministry of Transport to drop the age limit for heavy goods vehicle driving licences to as low as 18 years of age. The request has been ■ made by the Milk Distributive Council on behalf of its five constituent bodies.
The Council points out that the severity of the driving test is deterring a number of drivers, who cannot claim exemption, from taking the test, thus creating a shortage of qualified men.
It is asked that the age limit for classes 3 and 3(a) be reduced to 18 and for classes 2 and 2(a) that the age be 20. Classes 3 and 3(a) cover four-wheel rigids while classes 2 and 2(a) are rigid vehicles with more than four wheels.
The MDC points out that, if the request is granted, drivers would be able to gain experience progressively until they are 21 when they could qualify for a ' class 1 licence. It feels that the graduation will ensure that drivers will be effectively trained to handle larger vehicles.
The Council says it has ignored the question of costs. "We consider the efficient running of the industry's transport to be of prime consideration."
Unless the age limit is reduced, the Council considers that the recruitment of heavy goods vehicle drivers into the milk industry will progressively deteriorate to such a degree that it 'will be difficult to maintain a satisfactory service to its consumer market.
To those who argue that 18 is too young for a heavy goods vehicle licence, the MDC says: "We consider public safety will be adequately safeguarded by the rigorous driving test and medical examination". The Council represents the Milk Marketing Board; Amalgamated Master Dairymen; Co-operative Milk Trade Association; National Association of Creamery Proprietors and Wholesale Dairymen and the National Dairymen's Association.