The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment) Regulations 1998

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 by—

(a) modifying (to accord with changes in the licensing categories made on 1st January 1997) the classes of ambulance which a person may drive from the age of 18 (regulation 4(3));

(b) restoring the right of a person aged 17 to drive limited classes of road roller (regulation 4(4));

(c) providing that a person learning to ride a large motor bicycle or undertaking a compulsory basic training (CBT) course who has impaired hearing may employ suitable means of communication with the supervising instructor other than a radio (regulations 7(3) and 20);

(d) removing the requirement that a person taking a retest under section 36 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act 1988 must be resident in the United Kingdom (regulations 9(2) and (3));

(e) extending the classes of vehicle in respect of which a disqualification under section 36 of the Road Traffic Offenders Act is deemed to have expired on the passing of a test on a motor bicycle or motor car (regulation 11(4) and (5));

(f) extending and clarifying the powers of a traffic commissioner under Part IV of the Road Traffic Act 1988 in cases where the holder of a large goods or passenger-carrying vehicle driver’s licence has been disqualified by a court (regulation 13);

(g) amending the qualifications required of a person wishing to be a certified instructor for CBT courses and abolishing from 30th January 2002 the right to act as an assistant instructor (regulations 15, 16 and 18);

(h) imposing conditions as to a person’s eligibility to undertake a CBT course and providing for consequential effects on the validity of a CBT certificate (regulations 19 and 21);

(i) providing for the issue of duplicate CBT certificates by approved training bodies at a maximum charge of £20.00 (regulation 21(4));

(j) amending the definition of category B1 to encompass vehicles with an engine capacity of 50 cc. or less (regulation 23);

(k) making minor and consequential amendments and revoking spent regulations.