(This note is not part of the Regulations.)
These Regulations amend the Buses (Section 10B Permits) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 by altering the conditions which must be met by a person driving a small bus under a section 10B permit. Following the amendment of section 10A of the Transport Act (Northern Ireland) 1967 by the Driving Licences (Community Driving Licence) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 (S.R. 1996 No. 426, regulation 4 and Schedule 2 paragraph 1) a person who does not hold a full passenger-carrying vehicle driver’s licence may not, after 1st January 1997, drive large buses under such a permit. These provisions together give effect to Article 5.4(a) of Council Directive 91/439/EEC of 29th July 1991 on driving licences (O.J. No. L237, 24.8.91, p. 1).
A driver of a small bus under a permit must be 21 or over and hold either a full Northern Ireland driving licence, a full Great Britain licence or an equivalent licence issued by a state or territory within the European Economic Area which authorises the driving of motor cars. If, however, he did not hold a full Northern Ireland licence before 1st January 1997, he must fulfil two additional conditions, namely that the licence must have been held for at least two years in aggregate and he must not receive any payment for driving other than out of pocket expenses.
Copies of the EEC Directive referred to in this note can be obtained from Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, 16 Arthur Street, Belfast BT1 4GD.