PART IIITESTS OF COMPETENCE TO DRIVE

Requirements at tests

Test vehicles37

1

Subject to paragraph (3), the prescribed practical or unitary test for a licence authorising the driving of vehicles included in a category shown in column (1) of the Table at the end of this regulation must be conducted in a vehicle having a specification equivalent to or (except in the case of a test prescribed in respect of category F, G, H, K or P) higher than that shown in relation to that category in column (2) of the Table.

2

Subject to paragraph (3), the prescribed practical test for a licence authorising the driving of vehicles included in a sub-category shown in column (1) of the Table at the end of this regulation must be conducted in a vehicle having a specification equivalent to or higher than that shown in relation to that sub-category in column (2) of the Table.

3

Where an applicant for a practical test prescribed in respect of category A declares that he is suffering from a relevant disability of such a nature that he is unable to ride a motor bicycle without a side-car, that test must be conducted on a motor bicycle and side-car combination having the following specification—

a

in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a large motor bicycle and side-car combination, a combination in which the bicycle has a maximum net power output of not less than 35 kilowatts,

b

in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a standard motor bicycle and side-car combination (other than a combination included in sub-category A1), a combination which has a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kw/kg., and

c

in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of a motor bicycle and side-car combination included in sub-category A1, a combination consisting of a minimum test vehicle for that sub-category and a side-car where the combination has a power to weight ratio not exceeding 0.16 kw/kg.

4

A person submitting himself for a practical or unitary test shall provide a vehicle which—

a

corresponds to the specification referred to in paragraph (1), (2) or (3), as the case may be,

b

is not fitted with a device designed to permit a person other than the driver to operate the accelerator, unless any pedal or lever by which the device is operated and any other parts which it may be necessary to remove to make the device inoperable by such a person during the test have been removed, and

c

is reasonably representative of the class to which it belongs and is otherwise suitable for the purposes of the test.

5

A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category B or B+E shall provide a motor vehicle which—

a

is fitted with a front passenger seat unless it—

i

is a vehicle included in sub-category B1 and is constructed without a front passenger seat, or

ii

has been adapted on account of a disability of the person who has submitted himself for the test and as part of that adaptation has had the front passenger seat removed,

b

has fitted for use with the front passenger seat (or, if there is no such seat, with another seat in which the person conducting the test may conveniently sit for the purpose of the test) a properly anchored and functioning three-point seat belt, and

c

in the case of a vehicle fitted with a front passenger seat, has fitted as an integral part of that seat a head restraint which satisfies the requirements of Council Directive 78/932/EEC51.

6

A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category B shall provide a vehicle which is fitted with an interior rear-view mirror providing adequate rearward vision from the front passenger seat unless it—

a

is a vehicle included in sub-category B1 and is constructed without a front passenger seat, or

b

has been adapted on account of a disability of the person who has submitted himself for the test and as part of that adaptation has had the front passenger seat removed.

7

A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category B+E, C, C+E, D or D+E shall provide a motor vehicle which is not carrying goods or burden other than fixed items which are characteristic of the class to which it belongs.

8

A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category C, C+E, D or D+E shall provide a motor vehicle which is fitted with a seat which is firmly secured to the vehicle and in such a position that the person conducting the test may properly do so and is protected from bad weather during the test.

9

A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category D or D+E shall provide a motor vehicle which is fitted with a seat which is so placed that the person conducting the test can, from the deck of the vehicle on which the driver is seated, clearly observe the road to the rear of the vehicle without the use of any optical device, unless—

a

the construction of the vehicle makes it impossible to fulfil that requirement, or

b

the examiner consents to the requirement not being complied with in consequence of an arrangement to conduct part of the test elsewhere than on a road.

10

A person submitting himself for a practical test prescribed in respect of category B+E, C+E or D+E shall provide a motor vehicle which is fitted with linkage and braking mechanisms which are designed for use when the trailer is fully laden.

11

In the case of a test being conducted by a person appointed in accordance with paragraph (1)(b) or (2)(b) of regulation 24, paragraphs (5)(c) and (6) shall not apply.

12

In the table at the end of this regulation, “minimum test vehicle” means, in relation to any category or sub-category, a vehicle of a specification shown in relation to the category or sub-category in column (2) of the table.

TABLE

(1) Category or sub-category

(2) Specification

A

A motor bicycle without a sidecar having an engine with a maximum net power output of 35 kilowatts.

in the case of a test for a licence authorising the driving of large motor bicycles A

A learner motor bicycle without a sidecar having an engine with a cylinder capacity of 121 cubic centimetres and capable of a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.

in the case of any other test A1

A learner motor bicycle without a sidecar having an engine with a cylinder capacity of 75 cubic centimetres.

B

Any four-wheeled vehicle in category B capable of a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.

B1

Any vehicle in sub-category B1 capable of a speed of 60 kilometres per hour.

B+E

A combination of a minimum test vehicle for category B and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 1,000 kilograms which is capable of a speed of 100 kilometres per hour.

C1

Any vehicle in sub-category C1 having a maximum authorised mass of 4,000 kilograms and capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

C1+E

A combination of a minimum test vehicle for sub-category C1 and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 2,000 kilograms, the overall length of which is 8 metres and which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

D1

Any vehicle in sub-category D1 capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

D1+E

A combination of a minimum test vehicle for sub-category D1 and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 1,250 kilograms which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

C

Any vehicle in category C, other than an articulated goods vehicle, having a maximum authorised mass of 10,000 kilograms and a length of 7 metres which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

C+E

Either—

  1. a

    an articulated goods vehicle combination having a maximum authorised mass of 18,000 kilograms and a length of 12 metres which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour,

or

  1. a

    a combination of a minimum test vehicle for category C and a trailer having a length of 4 metres and a maximum authorised mass of 4 tonnes, which has, in aggregate, a maximum authorised mass of 18,000 kilograms and an overall length of 12 metres and which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

D

Any vehicle in category D having a length of 9 metres and capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

D+E

A combination of a minimum test vehicle for category D and a trailer having a maximum authorised mass of 1,250 kilograms which is capable of a speed of 80 kilometres per hour.

F

Any vehicle in category F.

G

Any vehicle in category G.

H

Any vehicle in category H.

K

Any vehicle in category K.

P

Any vehicle in category P.