The DfT (Department for Transport) has opened two public consultations – one on removing some exemptions from operator licensing, and the other concerned with changes to annual HGV roadworthiness testing.
Transport minister Claire Perry, explains that historically, certain heavier vehicles have been exempt from operator licensing and/or roadworthiness testing, and that the proposal is to remove some exemptoins either because of non-compliance with EU legislation or to correct anomalies.
"The HGV testing scheme provides exemption for 37 classes of vehicle. We are proposing to remove or modify exemptions covering 10 categories of vehicle," states Perry.
"We are considering a modification to exemption number 15 in the current list of exemptions under operator licensing," she continues.
"Vehicles using this exemption operate in direct competition with other non-exempt vehicles and perform the same core function."
And she explains that, due to the commonalities between operator licensing exemptions and annual test exemptions, the consultations will run in tandem.
Perry says that the measures proposed will improve road safety, update the legislation to reflect modern practices and ensure a fairer and more uniform approach for operators.
"I have placed copies of the documents in the libraries of both houses and they will also be available on gov.uk," she says.
To review the consultation documents, use the links below. Closing date for the consultations is close on 5 March 2015.
