(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations amend the Road Traffic Act 1988, the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988, the Road Traffic (Driver Licensing and Information Systems) Act 1989 (c. 22), the Criminal Justice Act 1972 and the Powers of Criminal Courts Act 1973 so as to give further effect to Article 2 of Council Directive (EEC) No. 80/1263 of 4th December 198011 on the introduction of a Community driving licence.

The principal effect of the amendments is, in the case of driving licences granted to come into force on or after 1st June 1990 (or in the case of licences granted under the law of Northern Ireland on or after 1st January 1991)–

(a)

to delete the requirement in section 98 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 that the licence contain a statement as to the classes of vehicles the holder is entitled to drive as if he were the holder of a provisional licence for these classes of vehicles, and

(b)

to substitute for the requirement that particulars of convictions, penalty points and disqualifications be endorsed on the licence a requirement that such particulars be endorsed upon a separate document known as a counterpart.

The counterpart to the licence will be issued with the licence and that document will contain the statement as to the licence holder’s provisional driving entitlement.