Drivers' Licences Will Be Standardised

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 41, 27 May 1965, Page 11

Drivers' Licences Will Be Standardised

The days when local authorities printed drivers' licences lor use in their o\yn areas has gone and from now on a standard format will be printed in Wellington for issue to local bodies throughout the country. The new licence, with a number of amended regulations, will come into effect on June 1. Signiflcant is the fact that the old system of the licence classes being marked fixDm one to 10 has been changed to read from A to L. This means two extra classes are included in the licence. One class which appeared to cause confusion to the licencee was the class governlng the use of a power cycle. A person holding a car licence was automatically covered when using a power cycle. This has heen changed and only a person holding a motor cycle licence is eligihle to ride a power cycle. However, it is stiJl possihle for the car licencee to retain the rights of the old classification simply hy signlng a declaration stating that he has had some experience in riding a power cycle. Of interest to passenger Rervice vehicle owners is that this licence has an entirely new concept. The licence Indicates that the holder may drive a passenger vehicle, or one or all of the other classes of vehicles shown on the licence. If a person wishes

to carry passengers for hire or reward on a heavy truck, he will require hoth "heavy trade" and "passenger service vehicle" on his licence. If he wishes to drive a car as a passenger service vehicle he will require hoth "private motor car" and "passenger service vehicle." In the past there has heen an element of risk, for insurance reasons, with people who have driven their neighhour's children to school. This has heen eliminated under the new regulation wherehy the holder of a private car licence can drive his own and his neighhour's children to school, even though he receives payment for this service. Previously he required

a "passenger service vehicle" licence. The Transport Department has received a number of questions concerning drivers' licences and one of the most frequent questions asked concerns the holding of a medical certificate hy a person applying for a licence. The regulation s state that the certificate must not he dated earlier than 30 days prior to the application heing made. Some authorities have heen interpreting this as not more than 30 days prior to the test heing carried out. According to the regulation it is quite clear that the 30 days applies to the date of application and not to . the date of testing.