Tuesday 25 February 2014
Last year, the UK's Driving Standards Agency introduced a requirement that large goods vehicles and vehicles with trailer must carry a minimum weight in order to be used for the driving test.
The Island does not have to follow changes to the driving tests introduced in the UK but the Environment Department is committed to improving driving standards through the driving test and these changes would be consistent with this objective. Furthermore, if the UK Government feels that the standard of driving test in the Island is falling behind its own and those in the EU, it will review its reciprocal arrangements for the recognition and exchange of Guernsey driving licences. Therefore the Department is continually reviewing changes that have been made in the UK and the EU to the driving test.
For this reason, the Department will adopt the same requirement with effect from 1 June 2014.
Vehicles Affected by the New Rules
C - Rigid lorry
C+E - Articulated lorry
B+E - Car and trailer
C1+E - Medium sized goods vehicle and trailer
D1+E - Minibus and trailer
D+E - Bus or coach and trailer
Load Requirements for Each Category
B+E The trailer will require weighting of......................................600 kg
C The vehicle's cargo compartment will require....................5,000 kg
C1+E The trailer will require weighting of...................................600 kg
C+E The trailer will require weighting of..................................8,000 kg
D1+E The trailer will require weighting of...................................600 kg
D+E The trailer will require weighting of.....................................600 kg
The loads shown are for intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) only apart from the 600kg test requirement in which sand bags with clearly marked weight per bag can be used.
The test may be cancelled and the booking fee lost if the vehicle does not meet the stated rules.
Reason for the Change
In reality, once candidates have successfully completed their practical test they, most likely, will drive lorries and buses that are fully laden. As "vocational" drivers and licence holders it is imperative that these people understand how their vehicles react differently when running empty or with a loaded compartment. A modern diesel lorry is quite capable of moving off unladen in second or even third gear but by implementing a realistic load to the vehicle the candidate will need to demonstrate correct use of the gears in normal driving conditions. The uphill and downhill starts as well as braking control will also be more indicative to the candidate of normal use for the vehicle rather than driving without a load.
Drivers will need to demonstrate that they can use the equipment on each vehicle competently allowing for the extra weight to ensure not only their safety but that of other road users.
Main Impacts of the Changes
- Vehicles presented for test must ensure the correct weight has been added and securely tied down (The Department reserves the right to have the vehicle weighed if it is suspected to be below the requirement). Any load deemed unsunsecured below the requirement may lead to cancellation of the test and forfeit of the booking fee.
- Private vehicles presented for test will be asked as to how the Weight required was calculated.
For example: 1 x pallet of sand/50 bags = 1 Tonne,
each bag therefore = 20kg
If a B+E test requires 600kg this equates to 30 bags of sand.
- The haulage companies or driving schools may decide to fabricate a load ready for each test that can simply be loaded/off loaded as required.
Contact Information:
Colin Le Page, Principal Traffic Services Officer
Environment Department
Tel: 243400
