Driving Licences

Question 1

Identify the legislation and regulations concerning driving licences.

Answer 1

Part III Road Traffic Act 1988 is the primary piece of legislation governing driving licences.

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licence) Regulations 1999 are regulations which deal with the requirements for full and provisional driving licences and the structure for driving tests and motor cycle training courses.

Question 2

Define Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

Answer 2

It is an offence for a person to drive on a road amotor vehicle of any class otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of that class

Question 3

Recognise the different types of driving licences and the restrictions applicable to each one.

Answer 3

Governed by part 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1988:

• Licence prior to 1991. Green. Most people upon passing there test automatically got Groups A (any vehicle) D ( Any motorbike) E (moped)
• European Licence prior to 1991. Pink. Same as the green licence.
• Licence after 1991. Green/Pink.* No longer were automatic vehicles a separate category as on old licences. As from 1991 a person who took their test in an automatic vehicle received a full
  category B licence with a category restriction 6 limiting them to automatic vehicles only.*
• Licence from 1997. Green/Pink. The Road Traffic ( New Drivers) Act 1995. This Act will affect drivers who passed their GB driving test after 1 June 1997 when it came into force. If the number of valid penalty points shown on the driving licence total 6 or more during the two year probationary period immediately following the first driving test, the full driving licence will be revoked by DVLA until such time as the person passes a further driving test.
• Photo card licences. New drivers passing a test in an ordinary car would be restricted to group B. Entitlement to tow a large trailer is only given to new drivers after successfully passing another driving test for the category B + E. If entitlement to drive medium sized goods vehicles or passenger vehicles with a capacity of larger than 8 passengers is required then new drivers will need to take a number of separate tests. (since 1998).
• Provisional driving licence. Provisional licences are generally issued to ‘learner’ drivers and allow them to drive,
  albeit with certain restrictions, until a relevant test is passed.

Question 4

Explain how to examine a driving licence including how to recognise the make up of the driver number.

Answer 4

Question 5

Summarize the offences that apply to both full and provisional driving licences.

Answer 5

• Defined in Section 87 of the road traffic act 1988

Question 6

Define Section 87 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

Answer 6

It is an offence for a person to drive on a road a
motor vehicle of any class otherwise than in accordance with a licence authorising him to drive a motor vehicle of that class.