The Government is being urged to put safety first in a possible major overhaul of driving licence rules after the authorities launched two consultations.
Ministers want the fleet industry’s views on a raft of ideas, which include allowing drivers to get behind the wheel of a vehicle weighing up to 7.5 tonnes, having only passed their car driving test.
According to the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP) director, it’s a very easy solution, but the repercussions are quite significant, and it puts a lot of responsibility back on the employer.
The Department for Transport (DfT) acknowledges that the removal of the test could see individuals driving heavier vehicles with little or no experience and, when considering that 30% of drivers fail the C1 light goods vehicle (up to 7.5-tonne MAM) test, this may increase the already higher accident rates.
Reversing, observation at junctions and using mirrors when changing direction were the top three reasons for not passing the C1 test, which drivers of these types of vehicles must currently hold.
In 2019, C1 vehicles were involved in 23% (982) of accidents involving a goods vehicle weighing more than 3.5t (4,339), while representing only 7% of the total distance travelled for goods vehicles in that weight bracket.
Adrian Walsh, Driving for Better Business advisor and executive director of RoadSafe, believes some safeguards would be necessary, while continual support for drivers from their employers would be vital, as well as possible restrictions based on age.
The DfT is keen to hear whether the demand for more C1-qualified drivers still exists.
Official statistics reveal 74% more lorry tests were carried out between January and March 2022 compared with pre-pandemic levels.
The DfT figures show there were 26,391 truck tests carried out in Q1 2022, 11,197 more than the 15,194 tests carried out from January to March 2020.
