The Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) Regulations 2007

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations implement Council Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 July 2003 on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers. In brief, the Directive requires such drivers to take an initial practical and theoretical driving test, valid for five years and 35 hours of periodic training every five years.

These Regulations extend to the United Kingdom, except regulation 15 which extends to Great Britain only.

Regulation 2 provides that in respect of Great Britain the competent authority is the Secretary of State and in respect of Northern Ireland it is the Department of the Environment.

Regulation 3 describes the categories of driver in respect of which the Regulations apply. Broadly, these are professional bus and lorry drivers. The main exceptions are those driving emergency vehicles, vehicles used by the police or armed forces, and vehicles used for training or testing purposes.

Regulation 4 prohibits any new driver from driving a bus on or after 10th September 2008 or a lorry on or after 10th September 2009 (“the relevant implementation date”) on a public road unless that driver has passed a theory and practical driving test, referred to as an “initial CPC” test. That test is more extensive than the current driving test and may be taken at the same time as that driving test. Drivers undergoing a vocational training course may be exempted up to 12 months from taking that test by the competent authority. Drivers who hold a bus or lorry driving licence before the relevant implementation date (“drivers with acquired rights”) are also exempt from taking the initial CPC test.

Regulation 5 allows the competent authority or a person approved by it to organise provision of initial CPC tests. Any person who takes the initial CPC test must pay £30 for the theory part of the test and £41 for the practical part of the test. This is additional to any fee that the applicant must pay for a driving test which he takes for a driving licence.

Regulation 6 allows the competent authority to approve persons to provide periodic training courses. Such a person must pay a fee of £1,500 for such approval which is valid for five years. In addition he must pay to the competent authority £250 for approval for each course which he proposes to provide. Such approval is valid for one year. Each course must last at least seven hours.

Regulation 7 requires each person who provides periodic training to notify the competent authority each time a course of periodic training has been completed. The competent authority must keep a record of such courses which have been completed.

Regulation 8 provides for a person who has passed the initial CPC test or completed 35 hours of periodic training to apply to the competent authority for a driver qualification card. The competent authority must issue such person with a driver qualification card upon payment of a fee of £25.

Regulation 9 prohibits anyone from driving a bus or lorry unless that person has passed the initial CPC test within the previous 5 years or has completed 35 hours of periodic training within the previous 5 years. Drivers with acquired rights who do not need to take the initial CPC test must complete 35 hours periodic training by 10th September 2013 in respect of bus drivers and by 10th September 2014 in respect of lorry drivers.

Regulation 10 makes it an offence for a person to drive without a CPC as required by the regulations. This is punishable with a fine up to level 3 on the standard scale.

Regulation 11 requires a driver who is required to have a CPC or who is exempt because he is undergoing an approved national vocational training course to carry evidence of that entitlement while driving and to produce it on demand by a police constable or vehicle examiner. Failure to do so is an offence punishable with a fine up to level 3 on the standard scale.

Regulation 12 enables the competent authority to issue a new driver qualification card or a document authorising driving whilst undergoing an approved national vocational training course if that card or document contains any errors, including if the name ceases to be correct. A fee of £25 is payable if the name ceases to be correct or if the error was the card holder’s fault. Otherwise issue of a new card is free of charge. Failure to surrender a card or document with errors is an offence punishable with a fine up to level 3 on the standard scale.

Regulation 13 makes it an offence for a person to forge or make false statements with respect to any document which evidences CPC entitlement or a training exemption. Such an offence is punishable on summary conviction with a fine up to the statutory maximum or on indictment to up to two years imprisonment or a fine or both.

Regulation 14 allows constables and examiners to seize any documents in respect of which an offence concerning evidence of CPC entitlement or a training exemption may have been committed under the regulations.

Regulation 15 amends the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations so that the new minimum age requirements in the Directive apply to bus and lorry drivers who have passed the initial CPC test. Broadly, 18 is substituted for the age of 21 in respect of bus drivers and lorry drivers provided that, in the case of the former, the driver is carrying passengers on a route which does not exceed 50 kilometres or does not carry passengers at all. For other bus drivers, age 20 is substituted for 21.

A copy of the regulatory impact assessment prepared in respect of these Regulations is available from the Driving Standards Agency, Policy Branch, Stanley House, 56 Talbot Street, Nottingham, NG1 5EJ or at www.dsa.gov.uk. .It can also be accessed on the Office of Public Information website at www.opsi.gov.uk. A copy of the transposition note is also available from the Driving Standards Agency at the same address or at www.dsa.gov.uk.