These Regulations provide that the holder of a category B licence may drive certain types of alternatively-fuelled vehicles which exceed the maximum authorised mass of a category B vehicle.

These Regulations relate to a European Commission Decision dated 4th May 2018 authorising the United Kingdom to exclude certain vehicles used for the transport of goods from the application of Article 4(4)(b) of Directive 2006/126/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 December 2006 on driving licences (“the Third Directive”). This Decision was made pursuant to article 4(5) of the Third Directive.

These Regulations amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 (“the 1999 Regulations”). Regulation 7 of the 1999 Regulations is amended to allow the holder of a category B licence to drive alternatively fuelled vehicles with a maximum authorised mass which exceeds 3,500 kilograms, up to a maximum authorised mass of 4,250 kilograms provided that person has undertaken five hours of training on the driving of an alternatively fuelled vehicle with a maximum authorised mass exceeding 3,500 kilograms with an instructor on the National Register of LGV Instructors or the National Vocational Driving Instructors Register.

A full impact assessment has not been published for these Regulations as there is no impact on business or charities or the voluntary sector. An Explanatory Memorandum is published alongside the instrument at www.legislation.gov.uk.