NEW DRIVING LAWS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 155, 3 May 1940, Page 5

NEW DRIVING LAWS

SOME AGE-LIMITS CHECKS UPON DRIVERS A re-issue of regulations affecting motorists' driving licenses is published in a supplementary Gazette. It contains several important provisions and embodies in regulation form various enactments during the past session of Parliament. Provision for Tourists. One of the new regulations states that overseas tourists may have their overseas licenses endorsed without fee by local authorities at the main ports, such licenses to be effective for the remainder of the licensing year. Overseas drivers, however, will have to undergo examinations in the Dominion traffic regulations. Drivers Over 70. People over 70 years of age will in future be required to undergo an annual driving test, and will also find it necessary to have medical certificates of fitness to drive motor vehicles. Checking the Unsafe. Perhaps the most important of the new provisions is that affecting the accident-prone driver. Under the regulations the Commissioner of Trans port will be empowered to review the licenses of persons who may be deemed to be dangerous drivers, and cancel those licenses if he sees fit. Appeal from the Commissioner's ruling to a stipendiary magistrate is also provided for, the cost of security for such appeal being twenty shillings. Age Limit for Taxis. In future, people under 24 years of age will not be permitted to drive taxis unless they are already engaged in this occupation*, or are over 21 and are approved by thie Minister of Transport on the recommendation of the local body concerned. Young Persons and Trucks. Another portion of the regulations stipulates that persons under IS will not be permitted to drive trucks of over two tons laden Aveight unless they are already doing so. This applies at present to unladen trucks of that weight. Passsnger Vehiclis. All drivers of public passenger A T ehicles in future Avill require an-, nual medical certificates, ii: eluding driA r ers of passenger trucks. The latter have not preA T iously been covered in this respect. Deafness Not a Bajr. Save in the case of public passenger vehicles, deafness or imperfect hearing Avill not debar people from obtaining driving licenses, provided a medical man is prepared to give a certificate of general fitness for such driver.