(1)The Road Traffic Act 1988 is amended as follows.
(2)For section 48(4) (supplementary provisions about test certificates: certificates of temporary exemption) substitute—
“(4)The Secretary of State may by regulations make provision for and in connection with—
(a)the issue of a certificate of temporary exemption in respect of a public service vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers, exempting that vehicle from the provisions of section 47(1) of this Act for such period as may be specified in the certificate;
(b)the revocation of such a certificate.
(4A)The power under subsection (4) includes power to—
(a)make provision for a certificate of temporary exemption to be issued subject to conditions;
(b)make different provision for different circumstances or cases;
(c)confer functions on a person (including functions involving the exercise of a discretion).”
(3)For section 53(5)(b) (obligatory goods vehicle test certificates: certificates of temporary exemption) substitute—
“(b)make provision for and in connection with—
(i)the issue in respect of a vehicle of a certificate of temporary exemption exempting that vehicle from the provisions of subsection (1) or (2) above for such period as may be specified in the certificate;
(ii)the revocation of such a certificate.”
(4)After section 53(5) insert—
“(5A)The power under subsection (5)(b) includes power to—
(a)make provision for a certificate of temporary exemption to be issued subject to conditions;
(b)make different provision for different circumstances or cases;
(c)confer functions on a person (including functions involving the exercise of a discretion).”
(1)In relation to a licence that—
(a)falls within subsection (2), and
(b)is granted in the period beginning with 17 April 2020 and ending with 24 March 2022,
section 99(1A)(a)(ii) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (duration of driving licences) has effect as if the reference to the period for which the licence is to remain in force were a reference to one year.
(2)A licence falls within this subsection if it is a licence to drive a class of goods vehicle or passenger-carrying vehicle that is—
(a)the first licence to drive that class of vehicle granted after 16 April 2020 to the applicant, and
(b)granted without the Secretary of State requiring the applicant to submit a report signed by a qualified medical practitioner in support of the application.
(3)But a licence does not fall within subsection (2) if in the 12 month period ending with the date the application is made for the licence—
(a)the applicant was granted a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, and
(b)a report signed by a qualified medical practitioner was submitted in support of the application for the licence mentioned in paragraph (a).
(1)In relation to a licence that—
(a)falls within subsection (2), and
(b)is granted in the period beginning with 1 August 2020 and ending with 24 March 2022,
Article 15(2)(a) of the 1981 Order (duration of driving licence in certain cases where applicant will not be over 65 when licence commences) has effect as if the reference to the period for which the licence is to remain in force were a reference to one year.
(2)A licence falls within this subsection if—
(a)it is a licence to drive a class of goods vehicle or passenger-carrying vehicle,
(b)it is the first licence to drive that class of vehicle granted after 31 July 2020 to the applicant,
(c)it is granted without the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland requiring the applicant to submit a report signed by a qualified medical practitioner in support of the application, and
(d)the applicant’s age exceeds 45 years on the date on which the licence comes into force.
(3)But a licence does not fall within subsection (2) if in the 12 month period ending with the date the application is made for the licence—
(a)the applicant was granted a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part 2 of the 1981 Order, and
(b)a report signed by a qualified medical practitioner was submitted in support of the application for the licence mentioned in paragraph (a).
(4)In this section “the 1981 Order” means the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1)).