Road Traffic Act 1974

15 Reduction of minimum age for driving heavy goods vehicles

(1) In subsection (3) of section 4 of the 1972 Act (regulations may modify minimum ages for driving in certain defined cases) in paragraph (a) (power to increase age for driving certain articulated vehicles) after the word " that", in the first place where it occurs, there shall be inserted the words " except in the case of a person who fulfils the conditions specified for the purpose of paragraph (d) below " and at the end of paragraph (c) there shall be added the following paragraph:—

“(d) that, in the case of a person who fulfils such conditions as may be specified in the regulations with respect to his training and employment (including membership of a training scheme approved by the Secretary of State), the age under which he may not drive a vehicle falling within paragraph 4 of the Table set out in subsection (1) above, other than a road roller, shall, if the vehicle is of a class specified in the regulations, be 18 instead of 21.”

(2) In section 114 of the 1972 Act (grant of heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences) in subsection (3) (issue of provisional licence subject to prescribed conditions) after the words " (2) above " there shall be inserted the words " or a full licence granted to an applicant who is under the age of 21 on the date of the application " and at the end of that subsection there shall be inserted the following subsection:—

“(4) It shall be an offence for a person to employ another person who is under the age of 21 to drive a heavy goods vehicle of any class in contravention of any prescribed conditions subject to which that other person's licence is issued.”

(3) In section 115 of the 1972 Act (duration of heavy goods vehicle drivers' licence) after subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection:—

“(1A) Without prejudice to subsection (1) above, if there come into existence, in relation to the holder of a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence who is under the age of 21, such circumstances as may be prescribed relating to his conduct as a driver of a motor vehicle, the licensing authority of the area in which the licence was granted shall revoke the licence.”

(4) Section 116 of the 1972 Act (disqualification on revocation of heavy goods vehicle driver's licence) shall have effect subject to the following modifications:—

(a) at the end of subsection (1) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(1A) Where in pursuance of section 115(1 A) of this Act the licensing authority is required to revoke the heavy goods vehicle driver's licence of a person under the age of 21, the authority shall order that person to be disqualified for holding or obtaining such a licence until he attains the age of 21”, and

(b) at the end of subsection (3) there shall be inserted the following subsection—

“(4) If, while the holder of a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence is disqualified under subsection (1A) above, the circumstances prescribed for the purposes of section 115(1A) of this Act cease to exist in his case, then, on an application made to the authority in that behalf, the licensing authority of the traffic area where he resides shall remove the disqualification, but so long as the disqualification continues in force a heavy goods vehicle driver's licence shall not be granted to him and any such licence obtained by him shall be of no effect”.

(5) In Part I of Schedule 4 to the 1972 Act (prosecution and punishment of offences) after the entry relating to section 114(3) there shall be inserted the following entry:—

“114(4)

Employing a person under 21 to drive heavy goods vehicle in contravention of conditions of heavy goods vehicle driver's licence.

Summarily.

£100.

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Section 181 applies.”