08 February, 2012
Pet News Changes to driving legislations will impact on horse industry | Changes to driving legislations will impact on horse industry |
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| Written by MyPetFriends | |
| Wednesday, 31 March 2010 | |
 New driving licensing legislation revoking ‘grandfather rights’, to accompany learner drivers in small lorries, buses and vehicle plus trailer combinations will have a profound impact on the equestrian industry according to The British Horse Society.- From 6 April 2010 drivers who passed their car driving test before January 1997 will no longer be able to act as ‘supervising’ drivers to those learning to drive small lorries, buses and vehicle plus trailer combinations (but not car/horse trailer combinations i.e. Category B+E). Crucially for the equestrian industry this will include 7.5 tonne horse boxes. - In a response to questioning by The British Horse Society, the Driving Standards Agency stated: “Drivers who passed their car driving test before January 1997 were granted implied entitlement, sometimes known as ‘grandfather rights’, to drive small lorries, buses and vehicle plus trailer combinations. These are classed as categories C1, C1+E, D1 and D1+E and subject to certain restrictions. - “It should be noted that it was never the intention to allow learner drivers to drive a vehicle on public roads unless being supervised by a qualified driver who had passed a test for that category of vehicle. - “Clearly there are road safety issues involved where a person who has never passed the relevant driving test will act as the supervisor for a driver in these categories. - “These changes will not affect the person’s existing entitlement to drive C1 or D1 vehicles or vehicle plus trailer combinations. They will however make it illegal for anyone to act as a supervising driver in such vehicles if they only hold pre-1997 implied entitlements.” - The new legislation has not been widely publicised and the BHS is concerned that many drivers will not be aware that they will be affected when the changes come into place on 6 April 2010. - Sheila Hardy, BHS Senior Executive Safety said: “It is concerning that this legislation has not been more widely publicised. It has left people no time at all to prepare themselves.” - A detailed description of the changes from the DSA is available on The British Horse Society website. 
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