Being scrapped from 20th Sept but you still cannot tow if you have B licence and combination exceeds 3500kg until legislation is approved and that may take another 2 -3 months.
I can't understand why a 16yr old can drive a tractor and trailer on the road on an F licence with size restrictions, at 17 they can drive a combination tractor and trailer with a weight of 31t, with no testing other than the car driving test on a B licence.
Saxo1
Quote: Originally posted by Triaxle on 11/9/2021
Will it be back dated to apply to all B cat drivers who passed since 1997?
When you renew your licence the E entitlement will automatically be added to your licence, in effect it is automatically backdated to all holders of a B category.
saxo1
Quote: Originally posted by Triaxle on 11/9/2021
So can one of my drivers who only has B tow once this law is passed? Macqatic doesn�t seem to think so�
Yes, once passed into law any car driver who passed after 1st Jan 1997 will automatically get the E entitlement added. So it will be as if the change in 1997 never happened.
I think personally it will come in to law around late november
Quote: Originally posted by Triaxle on 11/9/2021
So can one of my drivers who only has B tow once this law is passed? Macqatic doesn’t seem to think so…
What Macquatic is saying is it doesn't need backdating it will apply to all driers with a B licence automatically.
saxo1
Quote: Originally posted by saxo1 on 11/9/2021
I can't understand why a 16yr old can drive a tractor and trailer on the road on an F licence with size restrictions, at 17 they can drive a combination tractor and trailer with a weight of 31t, with no testing other than the car driving test on a B licence.
Saxo1
Farmers children, will have been driving huge farm machinery from a much younger age.
I never understood the logic in the 1997 law. I cannot see what difference the extra weight makes to safety. Anything under that weight is still just as dangerous without proper instruction or knowledge or common sense as the heavier units.
Us old'uns had no proper instruction or knowledge when we started towing although we probably had more common sense growing up in a much less safety regulated environment. Falling out of trees had it's uses.
Quote: Originally posted by Triaxle on 11/9/2021
So can one of my drivers who only has B tow once this law is passed? Macqatic doesn’t seem to think so…
What Macquatic is saying is it doesn't need backdating it will apply to all drivers with a B licence automatically.
saxo1
Exactly, it will apply from when the legislation becomes law.
Triaxle, yes your driver will be allowed to tow when the law is passed.
Apologies to anyone who was confused by my comment. My understanding of "backdated" was putting an earlier date to (a document) than the actual one (when the law is passed).
------------- I came into this world with nothing and I've still got most of it left.
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 11/9/2021
I never understood the logic in the 1997 law. I cannot see what difference the extra weight makes to safety. Anything under that weight is still just as dangerous without proper instruction or knowledge or common sense as the heavier units.
Us old'uns had no proper instruction or knowledge when we started towing although we probably had more common sense growing up in a much less safety regulated environment. Falling out of trees had it's uses.
Know what you mean about us old 'uns. Fell out of a few trees in my time too.
The weight issue is a difficult one though and I'm not sure how you resolve it. A car with a large caravan on the back handles very differently to one being driven solo, so that could be quite dangerous in the wrong hands. But then again so can a bicycle!
I have had a PSV licence since I was 22, and that covers me to drive a 12 ton+ coach towing a luggage trailer, but I can't legally drive a 10 ton truck. I have however driven many 7.5 ton trucks that were far bigger than some 10 ton trucks, as they were built for bulk rather than weight. Even if I didn't have the PSV licence I could still have driven a 7.5 ton truck as I passed my car test in 1966. The law has many anomalies.
I have just renewed my license as I will be 70 soon. I lost the truck 3.5 to 7.5 tonne and minibus categories as you need a paper application and medical for those! Takes ages at the moment.
Online took 4 days.
I still have my motorbike and B+E categories.
Can't say I want to drive a truck or minibus now.
If we decide to buy a motorhome it would not be over 3.5 tonne anyway.
I last drove trucks in Germany in the RAF, biggest thing since was a big motorhome in Canada and a 16 tonne tank on a fun day. It was great.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 12/9/2021
I have just renewed my license as I will be 70 soon. I lost the truck 3.5 to 7.5 tonne and minibus categories as you need a paper application and medical for those! Takes ages at the moment.
Online took 4 days.
I still have my motorbike and B+E categories.
Can't say I want to drive a truck or minibus now.
If we decide to buy a motorhome it would not be over 3.5 tonne anyway.
I last drove trucks in Germany in the RAF, biggest thing since was a big motorhome in Canada and a 16 tonne tank on a fun day. It was great.
Ah, now, a tank! That's something I have never driven. Food for thought there!
I'm already over 70, and I'm still weighing up whether to renew my PSV licence, which at my age has to be done annually now. I can no longer drive with passengers on as I didn't renew my CPC, but I may occasionally be asked to take a heritage bus back to the depot empty, and if I have a PSV (PCV) licence I automatically have a 7.5 ton truck licence.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: No more B+E test
via mobile 10/9/2021 at 8:08pm
