Member Article

Changes to motoring laws announced by the DVLA

The Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has today announced that there are new changes to the rules affecting drivers in the UK.

They include changes to what you are allowed to drive, the minimum age from which some vehicles can be driven, and driving licence card validity periods for some driver groups. The changes will mainly affect motorcyclists, lorry, bus and minibus drivers and those who tow trailers.

The DVLA has also announced that they will introduce a new style driving licence. The changes are in respect of the format of the licence, for example all vehicle categories will be listed on the back of the licence with dates against those you are entitled to drive or ride. You won’t be entitled to drive any category of vehicle that has lines instead of dates.

On the whole, the new rules will not affect the entitlement of existing drivers if their licences were granted before 19 January 2013. They will affect new drivers from 19 January 2013 onwards.

Andrew Swan, motoring specialist and Partner at Short Richardson & Forth LLP commented: “The changes in the rules are a tightening up of what new licence holders can drive, for example a restriction on the ability to tow a trailer weighing more than 3,500 kilograms with a car or small vehicle, new drivers will need to pass an additional test. On the whole they won’t affect the majority of drivers and many of the changes to the style of licence are really just the way they are set out.”

Further information can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/changes-to-the-driving-licence-and-categories

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Andrew Swan .