The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Statutory Rules of Northern Ireland

2007 No. 317

ROAD TRAFFIC AND VEHICLES

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007

Made

29th June 2007

Coming into operation

3rd September 2007

The Department of the Environment makes the following Regulations in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 5(3), (4) and (5), 19C(1) and 218(1) of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981(1).

In accordance with Article 19C(3) of that Order, the Department of Finance and Personnel(2) approves regulation 2(3).

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 and shall come into operation on 3rd September 2007.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

2.—(1) The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(3) shall be amended in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) In regulation 29 (nature of tests other than extended tests), for paragraph (6A)(4) substitute—

“(6A) The test of driving theory shall—

(a) be conducted as an approved form of examination consisting of—

(i) 50 questions in the case of a motor vehicle included in category A, B or P; and

(ii) 60 questions in the case of a motor vehicle included in category C or D,

the questions being in either a multiple choice or multiple response form and testing a candidate on the specified matters in accordance with Schedule 6; and

(b) have a duration time—

(i) in the case of a motor vehicle included in category A, B or P, 57 minutes, or in the circumstances specified in paragraph (7), 114 minutes; and

(ii) in the case of a motor vehicle included in category C or D, 70 minutes, or in the circumstances specified in paragraph (7), 140 minutes.”.

(3) In Schedule 4A(5)(fees for theory tests), in column (2), for “£20.50”, in each place where it occurs, substitute “£28.50”.

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 29th June 2007.

Stanley Duncan

A senior officer of the Department of the Environment

The Department of Finance and Personnel approves regulation 2(3).

Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of Finance and Personnel on 29th June 2007.

Mary McIvor

A senior officer of the Department of Finance and Personnel

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 so as to increase from 35 to 50 the number of theory test questions in respect of category A (motor bicycles), category B (motor cars) and category P (mopeds). The duration of the theory test in respect of those categories has been increased from 40 minutes to 57 minutes. Where the candidate because of reading difficulties requires the help of a suitably qualified person the time allowed has been increased from 80 minutes to 114 minutes.

The situation remains unchanged in relation to the theory test in respect of categories C (lorries) and D (buses).

The fees for theory tests in respect of categories A, B and P have been increased from £20.50 to £28.50. The fees in respect of categories C and D remain unchanged.

(1)

S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1); see Article 2(2) for the definition of “Department” and “prescribed”; Article 5 was substituted by S.I. 1991/197 (N.I. 3), Schedule 1 and amended by S.R. 1996 No. 426, Schedule 1, paragraph 2; Article 19C was substituted by S.I. 1991/197 (N.I. 3), Schedule 1 and amended by S.I. 1996/1320 (N.I. 10), Schedule 3, paragraph 8 and S.R. 1996 No. 426, Schedule 1, paragraph 11

(2)

Formerly the Department of Finance; see S.I. 1982/338 (N.I. 6), Article 3

(3)

S.R. 1996 No. 542; relevant amending Regulations are S.R. 1997 No. 383; S.R. 2002 No. 383 and S.R. 2007 No. 111

(4)

Paragraph (6A) was inserted by S.R. 2002 No. 383, regulation 5(4)

(5)

Schedule 4A was inserted by S.R. 2007 No. 111, regulation 4