New drivers could hop behind the wheel of 7.5-tonne lorries with no special licence under top Tory’s plan
NEW drivers would be able to drive 7.5-tonne lorries and minibuses without a special licence under a law proposed by a senior Tory.
Ex-Cabinet Minister Therese Coffey will urge ministers today to ditch EU regulations and return to pre-1997 rules, which allowed anyone with a standard car licence to drive larger vehicles and minibuses.
She told The Sun the EU “overhang” is costing drivers between £2000 and £3000 and that getting rid of it would boost community transport but also unlock economic growth.
Her proposal would challenge the current requirement for a C1 licence to drive medium-sized vehicles from from 3.5-7.5t and a D1 licence for minibuses.
She said: “This would be a Brexit bonus for increasing community transport and removing an unnecessary, costly barrier for business.
“Recognising the strengthening of the driving test in the past 25 years, we should have the confidence to back British drivers with British rules, not an EU overhang.”
Ms Coffey said some restrictions could still be applied in the interest of road safety, such as a minimum age of 25 or holding a licence for three years prior to the automatic upgrade.
A Government consultation ending in October 2022 showed 64 per cent of people agreed with both categories being standardised into a driving test.
Ms Coffey will present her proposals in the Commons today but without Government support, her Bill is unlikely to make further progress.
Community Transport Association boss Caroline Whitney has thrown her weight behind the initiative.
She told The Sun her members are “worried” about the potential shortage of minibus drivers in the upcoming years if the issue is not addressed.
She said: “These services are critical for the physical and mental health of so many often-vulnerable people currently not served by mainstream transport services. This change should make it easier for Community Transport organisations to hire drivers, which will help secure and expand Community Transport services. “