Road Traffic Act 1972

125 Provisions as to Northern Ireland heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences

(1) If the Secretary of State certifies that satisfactory provision is made by the law of Northern Ireland for the issue of licences specifically to drive heavy goods vehicles, it shall be lawful for the holder of such a licence (hereafter in this section referred to as a Northern Ireland licence) to drive, and be employed in driving, on a road in Great Britain heavy goods vehicles of any class which he is authorised by that licence to drive, notwithstanding that he is not the holder of a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence.

(2) While a certificate is in force under subsection (1) above, the licensing authority may, notwithstanding anything in section 114(1) of this Act, grant a full licence to drive a heavy goods vehicle of any class to an applicant resident in Great Britain if he is satisfied that the applicant has, within the period of five years ending on the date of the coming into force of the licence, held a Northern Ireland licence to drive any heavy goods vehicle of that class corresponding to a full licence and not being a licence granted under an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland in consequence of a dispensation from passing a test of competence to drive by reason of the applicant's residence outside the United Kingdom.

(3) A prescribed licensing authority may exercise as respects Great Britain the like power of suspending or revoking any Northern Ireland licence and of making an order under section 116(1) of this Act as is conferred in relation to a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence by section 115(1) thereof and the said section 116(1) on the licensing authority for the traffic area in which the last-named licence was granted, and the provisions of the said section 115(1) (except the provision relating to the duration of licences) and of the said section 116(1) shall have effect accordingly.

(4) A holder of a Northern Ireland licence who is aggrieved by the suspension or revocation of the licence or the ordering of disqualification by virtue of subsection (3) above shall have the like right to require the reconsideration of the matter and the like right of appeal as are conferred by section 118 of this Act, except that the matter shall be reconsidered by the prescribed licensing authority, and—

(a) an appeal brought by virtue of this subsection shall, if the appellant is not resident in Great Britain, he to a prescribed magistrates' court or a prescribed sheriff; and

(b) the provisions of subsection (2) of the said section 118 shall have effect accordingly.

(5) At any time when no certificate is in force under subsection (1) above a person resident in Northern Ireland who is temporarily in Great Britain and holds a driving licence issued in Northern Ireland under Part II of the [1955 c. 27 (N.I.).] Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1955 or Part I of the [1970 c. 2 (N.I.).] Road Traffic Act (Northern Ireland) 1970 to drive heavy goods vehicles of any description may during a period of twelve months from the date of his last entry into Great Britain drive, and be employed in driving, on a road in Great Britain a heavy goods vehicle of that description brought temporarily into Great Britain notwithstanding that he is not the holder of a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence.