DSA press release
Supervising in small lorries and minibuses
People who passed a car driving test before 1997 and want to supervise learners in some other categories of vehicle have until April 2010 to get the necessary new qualification.
The new rules apply to those who obtained their car licence before 1997 and who supervise learners in small lorries (category C1), minibuses (D1) or vehicle plus trailer combinations (C1+E or D1+E).
They have until 6 April next year to meet the relevant medical standards and pass the appropriate driving test if they want to continue supervising learners in those vehicles.
Drivers who passed before 1997 were given so-called “grandfather rights” to drive small lorries and minibuses. They will be able to continue driving these vehicles but will only be able to give tuition in them if they pass the test for the relevant category before 6 April 2010.
But drivers who do not pass the relevant driving test before then will have to wait three years from the date they do pass until they can supervise learner drivers.
Most instructors who provide professional training in driving small lorries and minibuses will not be affected by the change as they have already passed a driving test in a larger vehicle.
But a minority with ‘grandfather rights’ have been supervising learners without having the appropriate pass themselves.
Trevor Wedge, Great Britain’s Chief Driving Examiner, said: “In the interests of road safety, it is important that learners are supervised by people who have proved themselves capable of driving the vehicle in question.
“It was never the intention to allow learner drivers to be supervised on public roads unless they were with people who had proven experience of driving those vehicles."
10 July 2009