Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (the “principal Regulations”) and implement in part Article 1(2) and Annex II of Commission Directive 2000/56/EC of 14th September 2000 amending Council Directive 91/439/EEC on driving licences.

Regulation 2(2) and Schedule 1 substitute a new table into regulation 26 of the principal Regulations which varies on a category by category basis the minimum test vehicle standards for vehicles first used on or after 30th September 2003. These amendments relate, inter alia, to the speeds, dimensions, or mass, of the vehicle or combination in question. It also provides that the vehicle to be driven by a person submitting himself for a test for a licence authorising the driving of category C, D, C + E, or C1 + E vehicles (large goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles each with or without a trailer) must be fitted with an anti-lock braking system and a tachograph, and that vehicles in category C or C + E must have at least eight forward gears.

Regulation 2(3) and Schedule 2 provide for the substitution of Schedule 7 to the principal Regulations and thereby alter the specified matters which may or will be tested in respect of tests for licences for vehicles in each of vehicle categories A, B, B + E, C, C + E, D, and D + E (and their respective sub-categories). The main change is the inclusion of requirements for a candidate to be able to demonstrate or describe safety checks on the vehicle in respect of which he is seeking a licence. The revised Schedule also introduces parking and positional exercises (see Part 2, section G; Part 3, section F; and Part 4, section F) in respect of the uncoupling and re-coupling of tractor vehicles and trailers.

Copies of the EC Directives referred to in this note can be obtained from TSO, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.