Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) (Amendment No. 4) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003 and shall come into operation on 1st January 2004.

Amendment of the Motor Vehicle (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

2.  For Part 5 of Schedule 7 to the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996(2) (specified requirements for practical or unitary test) there shall be substituted the Part set out in the Schedule.

Regulation 2

SCHEDULE

PART 5Unitary Test: Categories F, G, H, and K

A. Eyesight

Read in good daylight (with the aid of corrective lenses if worn) a registration mark fixed to a motor vehicle –

(a)where the registration mark contains letters and figures 79 millimetres high and 57 millimetres wide, the test shall be conducted at a distance of –

(i)in the case of a unitary test conducted in respect of a vehicle included in category K, 12.3 metres;

(ii)in any other case, 20.5 metres;

(b)where the registration mark contains letters and figures 79 millimetres high and 50 millimetres wide, the test shall be conducted at a distance of –

(i)in the case of a unitary test conducted in respect of a vehicle included in category K, 12 metres,

(ii)in any other case, 20 metres.

B. Technical control of the vehicle

1.  Start the engine of the vehicle.

2.  Move away straight ahead or at an angle.

3.  Turn right-hand and left-hand corners correctly.

4.  Stop the vehicle in an emergency and normally and, in the latter case, bring it to a rest in an appropriate part of the road.

C. Behaviour in traffic

Overtake, meet or cross the path of other vehicles and take an appropriate course.

D. Vehicle safety checks

1.  Describe how to perform a check on the condition and safety of one component of the vehicle in which the test is being conducted, chosen at the discretion of the person conducting the test, from the list of components specified in paragraph 3, and conduct an actual check on the condition and safety of a second component, similarly chosen from the list.

2.  In the case of a disabled driver the requirements specified in paragraph (1) may be carried out by oral examination.

3.  The list of components is as follows: tyres, steering, brakes, lights, reflectors, direction indicators, audible warning device, the power-assisted braking and steering systems, wheels, wheel nuts, mudguards, tracks, windscreen, windows and wipers, the air pressure in the braking system, air tanks for the braking system, the suspension and the liquids used in the braking system, steering system, engine or elsewhere in the vehicle as a coolant, lubricant, cleaner or otherwise.

E. Road safety

In the case of categories F and K be fully conversant with the contents of the Highway Code.

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations.)

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 by substituting Part 5 of Schedule 7 and thereby alter the specified matters which may or will be tested in respect of tests for licences for vehicles in each of vehicle categories F, G, H and K. The main change is the inclusion of requirements for a candidate to be able to demonstrate on one occasion, and describe on another, a safety check on a component of the vehicle in respect of which he is seeking a licence.