Govt change to licences to allow driving heavier vans ...

[Larrynwin]

If this is all true, it is a sick joke. I lost my C1 entitlement last year as I narrowly failed the more stringent eye test required for driving lorries and mini busses. (I had surgery to manage Glaucoma). I exceed the requirements for a "B" licence.

My explanation that as a retiree and never having driven a lorry or minibus, I did not need a licence for that. This fell on deaf ears and very patronisingly I was told it was all about public safety. I was forced to sell my 5 month old motorhome to replace it with a sub 3500kg motorhome so I could keep motor-homing.

Now to be advised that I will soon be able to drive a heavier motorhome as long as it is not powered by diesel or petrol just re-enforces my claim (disputed by the DVLA) that these leisure vehicles are in the wrong category for licensing. Now, in light of these new proposals, it can no longer be about public safety.

DOH!

I lost mine three years ago following an op in one eye , again marginally on the field test after 9 months of DVLA cogitating. Had to part with our fabulous RV.
The joke is on B+E I can drive with a gtw of 11000 kgs, if that were physically possible.

 

[The Wino]

Will be interesting if hybrids catch on if someone can develop a way of using the big battery pack as a leisure battery too rather than having aseparate one in leisure terms they must be HUGE

 

[The Wino]

If this goes ahead the ONLY way would be if all licences allowed driving vehicles up to 4250kg regardless of what the vehicle is, anything else would make it a nightmare to try to 'police' it not to mention how the insurance and breakdown companies would deal with it!

To use this arguement it can't be fair for motorhomes less then 3500 to have a higher speed limit than vans it ought to be reduced!!!!

 

[Dorset Diver]

If this goes ahead the ONLY way would be if all licences allowed driving vehicles up to 4250kg regardless of what the vehicle is, anything else would make it a nightmare to try to 'police' it not to mention how the insurance and breakdown companies would deal with it!

I suspect that you will be proven right @Minxy Girl and if you are I shall be really P'ed off. Just yesterday I received my updated / up weighted V5C from DVLA - 4250 kgs to 4500 kgs and I'm over 70 .

 

[tonyidle]

I suspect that you will be proven right @Minxy Girl and if you are I shall be really P'ed off. Just yesterday I received my updated / up weighted V5C from DVLA - 4250 kgs to 4500 kgs and I'm over 70 .

Assuming @Minxy Girl is correct there's still no reason why the 70+ medical wouldn't continue.

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[The Wino]

I suspect medical requirements will get more stringent we live in an increasingly risk averse society

 

[olley]

The problem is range, 300 miles best case sencenrio, want twice the range? Add half a ton of batteries.

 

[PeteH]

All part of the woolly thinking that is the Department of Transport, the place where the only thing that is of any importance is the size and delivery date of the inflated Pension. Seat polishing is endemic.

 

[PeteH]

I suspect medical requirements will get more stringent we live in an increasingly risk averse society

All part of the "Ageist" agenda. Can`t have all these retired people spending money on enjoyment. The "Risk" is no greater than it was ever. The woolly thinking of the "Snowflake" society is crippling the Nation.

 

[The Wino]

All part of the "Ageist" agenda. Can`t have all these retired people spending money on enjoyment. The "Risk" is no greater than it was ever. The woolly thinking of the "Snowflake" society is crippling the Nation.

Don't think its ageist just a consequence of the sue them culture and I think thats not just the younger ones there are quite a few on here who sound like they would sue at the drop of a hat for medical negligence/accidents etc. It limits fun for all ages from school trips to old farts motorhoming.

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[PeteH]

Snowflake = S`no fun.

 

[gus-lopez]

To use this arguement it can't be fair for motorhomes less then 3500 to have a higher speed limit than vans it ought to be reduced!!!!

You weren't a politician in a previous life ?
You don't REDUCE the van limit but increase it from where it should never have been reduced from. Same as cars. Flatout.

 

[vwalan]

I lost mine three years ago following an op in one eye , again marginally on the field test after 9 months of DVLA cogitating. Had to part with our fabulous RV.
The joke is on B+E I can drive with a gtw of 11000 kgs, if that were physically possible.

and it is . just lower a 7.5 ton mitzy or isuzu to 3.5ton and pull a fifth wheeler. they keep original trainweight even after voluntary lowering of gvw. could be a nice small trailer .
fifth wheeler or mini artic is the way forward for many .
use the rules . dont break them . just keep on the legal side . its a game you have to play.
mind there was some with trainweights of 12 ton a few years ago.

 

[vwalan]

I lost mine three years ago following an op in one eye , again marginally on the field test after 9 months of DVLA cogitating. Had to part with our fabulous RV.
The joke is on B+E I can drive with a gtw of 11000 kgs, if that were physically possible.

and it is . just lower a 7.5 ton mitzy or isuzu to 3.5ton and pull a fifth wheeler. they keep original trainweight even after voluntary lowering of gvw. could be a nice small trailer .
fifth wheeler or mini artic is the way forward for many .
use the rules . dont break them . just keep on the legal side . its a game you have to play.
mind there was some with trainweights of 12 ton a few years ago.

 

[gus-lopez]

mind there was some with trainweights of 12 ton a few years ago.

That went with the EU harmonisation of licences, I believe.

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[vwalan]

That went with the EU harmonisation of licences, I believe.

cant quite remember but i know some of the early jap trucks had the higher trainweight . then it got lowered to 11ton. mind i dare say bigger trucks could be voluntarily lowered in gvw if they made them light enough.
dont think authority ever imagined 7.5 ton trucks to be so light as some are.
mine is only 9.8 ton trainweight . mind i dont use it these days . just keep to 8.250 kg trainweight .
when i get to 70yr old i might lower the gvw and slide the trailer wheels forward . that will lower the pin weight .
but it could be used on a b+e if and when , if i still have it .

 

[Larrynwin]

Amazing that they consider I’m safe driving with 11000 kg gtw but not safe with
8250 kg gtw effing brainless idiots.

 

[sonny]

I wonder if the vehicle manufacturers have been consulted

 

[nicholsong]

and it is . just lower a 7.5 ton mitzy or isuzu to 3.5ton and pull a fifth wheeler. they keep original trainweight even after voluntary lowering of gvw. could be a nice small trailer .
fifth wheeler or mini artic is the way forward for many .
use the rules . dont break them . just keep on the legal side . its a game you have to play.
mind there was some with trainweights of 12 ton a few years ago.

I was going to post that a lot of us with pre 1997 C1 licences have a train weight limit of 8250kg and I thought it would be the same if one were driving the tow vehicle on B licence, but I just looked at my licence and the BE has no train weight limitation.

So what you are suggesting, i.e. using the original train weight with a tow vehicle reduced MPLM to 3500kg and driving on a BE licence looks legal. Crazy or what?

Geoff

 

[Dare_Devil_Dennis]

Crazy, yes, but not the max train weight issue. the whole system is completely bonkers. It needs a proper review, but if it ever gets one, it will be carried out by a committee of professional nutters who think we (over 65's) are all incapable, incompetent and need measures to protect the rest of society from us.

So don't expect anything better to come, EVER and make the most of what we have.

Nice to explore the loop-holes, but we need to watch how "universal" any loop-holes are.

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[vwalan]

I was going to post that a lot of us with pre 1997 C1 licences have a train weight limit of 8250kg and I thought it would be the same if one were driving the tow vehicle on B licence, but I just looked at my licence and the BE has no train weight limitation.

So what you are suggesting, i.e. using the original train weight with a tow vehicle reduced MPLM to 3500kg and driving on a BE licence looks legal. Crazy or what?

Geoff

its real. iveco drop theirs and keep higher than 8250kg trainweight . they used to drop the 5 tonner years ago but now drop higher.
also b+e got by taking the test before jan 2013 you can also tow with a good trainweight.
i dont lower mine at moment as there is other advantages using my truck and pulling my trailer.