XN000022-1988-12-21 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1988 ·

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LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING TEST NEXT YEAR

IN JUNE

A LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING TEST WILL BE INTRODUCED NEXT YEAR TO ENSURE THAT LEARNER DRIVERS WHO WISH TO DRIVE A LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE WILL BE TRAINED AND TESTED ON THE NECESSARY SKILLS, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE TEST IS BEING INTRODUCED IN THE INTEREST OF ROAD SAFETY.

AT PRESENT, AN AUTOMATIC ENDORSEMENT TO DRIVE A LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE UP TO 5.5 TONNES IS GIVEN TO ALL PERSONS WHO PASS THE PRIVATE CAR DRIVING TEST.

IN VIEW OF THE HIGH ACCIDENT RATE OF LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES, AND THE HIGHER LEVEL OF DRIVING SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE CONTROL OF SUCH VEHICLES, THE TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT CONSIDERED THAT A SEPARATE DRIVING TEST SHOULD BE INTRODUCED, THE ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR TRANSPORT, MR BRIAN COAK, SAID.

4,627

DURING THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THIS YEAR, A TOTAL OF LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS. REPRESENTING A 25 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VEHICLES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS DURING THIS PERIOD.

ACCIDENTS LAST

THE NUMBER OF LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES INVOLVED IN YEAR WAS 5,606, ACCOUNTING FOR 23.4 PER CENT OF ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS.

THE RATE IN 1986 WAS 20.6 PER CENT.

AS SOME OF THE CANDIDATES ALREADY ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE PRIVATE CAR DRIVING TEST MAY WISH TO DRIVE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES, THE DEPARTMENT CONSIDERED THAT THOSE WHO ARE ON THE WAITING LIST ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER 31 THIS YEAR SHOULD CONTINUE TO BE ISSUED WITH AN AUTOMATIC ENDORSEMENT TO DRIVE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES IF THEY PASS THE PRIVATE CAR DRIVING TEST BEFORE THE END OF DECEMBER NEXT YEAR.

THIS WILL ALLOW A REASONABLE PERIOD FOR THOSE WHO FAIL TEST THE FIRST TIME TO SEEK A RE-TEST.

THE

FROM NEXT MONTH, NEW CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO DRIVE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLES MUST APPLY TO TAKE THE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING TEST.

AS IT REQUIRES A MORE DEMANDING TECHNIQUE TO DRIVE A LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE THAN DRIVING A PRIVATE CAR, CANDIDATES WHO PASS THE LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE DRIVING TEST WILL BE GIVEN AN AUTOMATIC ENDORSEMENT TO DRIVE PRIVATE CARS.

MR COAK SAID THE TEST WILL COMPRISE THE STANDARD AND A ROAD TEST IN A PARTIALLY LOADED LIGHT GOODS VEHICLE.

WRITTEN TEST

APPLICANTS WILL HAVE TO PASS ALL PARTS OF THE ROAD TEST TO OBTAIN A LICENCE. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL MBAN A COMPLETE RE-TEST ON ALL PARTS OF THE ROAD TEST.

CURRENTLY, PRIVATE CAR DRIVING LICENCE APPLICANTS CAN PARTIALLY FAIL AND CAN BE RE-TESTED ON THE PART THEY FAIL.

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