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The Department for Transport (DfT) in conjunction with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) are introducing new driving regulations for lorry drivers that will affect removal companies in London when they are implemented as part of new European requirements on driver testing, training, examination and licensing which come into force in 2013.
At present, London removals drivers of medium-sized and large buses and lorries need to renew their licences every five years once they reach the age of 45. Over-45s also need to demonstrate their fitness to drive through a full medical report. From 2013, under-45s who drive these vehicles will also need to confirm medical fitness and renew their licence every five years. However, under-45s will not require a full medical report and will still only need to renew their photograph every 10 years. All other drivers and riders will continue to renew their driving licences every 10 years as is currently the case.
Noel Shanahan, Chief Executive of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency which is responsible for the administration of driver licences and vehicle registration, said:
“The UK haulage and bus industry operate to high levels of safety and the vast majority of drivers in the industry already ensure that they are fit to drive and notify the DVLA if they have any concerns. This new measure will provide an additional reminder but we are proposing to introduce this in a way that minimises the impact on drivers.”
Additional regulations still to be confirmed will also be applied to light van drivers who tow trailers – most likely to affect London man-with-a-van operations. The proposals are that drivers will be allowed to tow slightly larger trailers than they can currently on a normal car driving licence (Category B) if they take a further test or undergo training although new restrictions will apply to the overall size of the vehicle/trailer combination that can be driven on a category B+E licence.
If you want to find a removal expert to help you with moving home, please consult our Tradesmen´s Directory for an excellent source of highly rated tradesmen in London. When moving home it is advisable to get several moving home quotes, as prices can vary on the distance you are moving and the number of hands required.