B+E training

[skyhuck]

...and that you'd be allowed to do if you were born earlier. The 1997 age lottery irritates me something chronic.

 

I sent the following to my MP and am chasing hard. I encourage others to do the same.

Dear My MP,

 

I obtained my bog standard car driving licence after 01.01.1997 which allows me to drive cars, lorries <3500kg, tractors, mowing machines and mopeds (with trailers <750kg behind the car/lorry/tractor). People who obtained their licences before 01.01.1997 automatically got the parts on their licence allowing them to drive the same, as well as lorries <7500kg and minibuses, trailers >750kg on both and vehicles to which parts L and N refer (UK Driving Licence Checks | Driving Licence Checking | Driving Licence Verification Service from Licence Check).

 

Terrified, clinging-to-the-wheel, forgotten-where-the-brake-pedal-is pensioners who got their licence from the post office between the wars can drive a minibus of 17 victims with a couple of tonnes of trailer on the back.

My mother and a friend of mine, quite careless women of 64 and 41 respectively who often bump into flowerpots on the driveway, can happily terrorise those on pavement corners with a long wheelbase lorry loaded to the gunwales.

I, a quite able and practical 23 year old, who would find it very useful indeed to be allowed to drive small lorries and minibuses to do stuff like picking up machinery or taking groups of scouts on camping trips (the sort of things that stand to benefit the economy and well rounded society), can't because of some age lottery.

 

 

If the 1997 change hadn't been made fewer people would be driving chronically overloaded Transit vans because they don't have the part on their licence for a bigger (safer) vehicle (and don't fancy shelling out £1000 - £1500 for it) and fewer people would be driving vehicles they just don't have a licence for. Also, it would be easier for people to get into jobs where these sorts of vehicles are used (and indeed would save organisations like schools a fortune having to put teachers through minibus tests).

 

 

I'd like you to speak to whoever you think would have a sympathetic view to my plight, particularly people responsible for jobs, employment, the economy etc.

Letting people do more stuff = people do more stuff = economy does better if the Country isn't sat on its red-taped hands.

 

Please keep my abreast of how you get on.

 

 

Yours sincerely,

 

AHPP

 

Your letter is some what contradictory.

 

You are arguing that there are untrained people driving large vehicles, but then say you think the entitlement should have remained

[Billy]

I see it as saying they may as well carried on as theres loads of numpties allowed to drive hgv's who have no idea...our mothers. and plenty who do have a good head on their shoulders who aren't allowed to, so drive around in chronically overloaded 3.5 tonners and pull trailers they're not allowed ot hoping no one will notice...which they usually don't but thats not the point.

[AHPP]

Your letter is some what contradictory.

 

You are arguing that there are untrained people driving large vehicles, but then say you think the entitlement should have remained

 

I can see where you're coming from but the angle I was pushing hardest was why is it one rule for one and another rule for another.

 

In terms of qualification, training etc then I am a fan of people getting on with it. The delights of natural order and the free market economy (manifested in insurance companies and training providers) will sort out the majority of problems.

[SAM66S]

I see it as saying they may as well carried on as theres loads of numpties allowed to drive hgv's who have no idea...our mothers. and plenty who do have a good head on their shoulders who aren't allowed to, so drive around in chronically overloaded 3.5 tonners and pull trailers they're not allowed ot hoping no one will notice...which they usually don't but thats not the point.

 

That was the whole point of the law changing to stop those sort of people being able being able to do that

[Billy]

That was the whole point of the law changing to stop those sort of people being able being able to do that

Well, they're already there so they may as well carry on, theres not much in it between a 7.5t truck and a LWB Sprinter or similar, just abit wider...weight makes very little difference. I'm just annoyed i am gonna ahev to fork out to move any major weight:thumbdown:

[skyhuck]

Well, they're already there so they may as well carry on, theres not much in it between a 7.5t truck and a LWB Sprinter or similar, just abit wider...weight makes very little difference. I'm just annoyed i am gonna ahev to fork out to move any major weight:thumbdown:

 

They only way people will not be doing it in 40 years time was to make the change when they did.

 

Weight makes huge difference!!!!!!

 

It totally changes the amount of stopping distance required and will cause considerably more damage upon impact.

[carlos]

i think that is a good thing being limeted to 3.5 ton on a b lisecne( annoying too)

think back to when you passed your car test..... then next day into a fully loaded 7.5ton truck big jump up imo.

carl

[Billy]

They only way people will not be doing it in 40 years time was to make the change when they did.

 

Weight makes huge difference!!!!!!

 

It totally changes the amount of stopping distance required and will cause considerably more damage upon impact.

ok well, no difference a little common sense doesn't adjust for automaticaly. It would be rediculous to drive fast and stop short in freighted up vehicles wether they be 3.5t or 30+. My point is its essentially the same, however i must reluctantly agree that it makes sense to have another test for trailers as it takes a bit of practice to learn to back them up right...but i;d still rather they let people try their luck as reversing is rarely done in places where it puts many people at risk.

[Ben Tidey]

did you find a trainer? my old man runs a lgv driver training company he does B+E he can be found at, Macleod Training he is based in West Sussex.

[Big J]

Slight derail, but curious what the circumstances would be for me to need a tachograph for trailer towing? For instance, would towing 2.6 tonnes of trailer and timber with a total train weight of in excess of 5t require it?