Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999 (“the principal Regulations”).

Regulations 3 and 6(2) provide for a generally applicable definition of “certified direct access instructor” in the principal Regulations.

Regulation 4 revokes regulation 13 of the principal Regulations which requires the Secretary of State, in specified circumstances, to refuse to grant a provisional licence to drive a motor bicycle to a person who has been the holder of a previous licence and regulation 5 amends regulation 15 so as to allow a provisional licence to be granted for the same period as a provisional car licence.

Regulation 6 amends regulation 16 of the principal Regulations so as to make it a condition of a provisional licence to drive a moped or learner motor bicycle that, when receiving professional tuition on a road after compulsory basic training, the holder of the licence cannot have with him more than 3 other such learners.

Regulation 7 also amends regulation 42 so as to remove some of the exemptions from the requirement to pass a theory test for the purpose of obtaining a licence in category A or B.

Regulation 43 of the principal Regulations is amended by regulation 8 so that, in relation to a person passing the test of competence to drive a vehicle in category B on or after 1st February 2001, a licence to drive vehicles in category B does not confer entitlement to drive vehicles in category P unless the licence holder has successfully completed an approved training course for motor cyclists. Regulation 9 inserts a new regulation 44A into the principal Regulations to provide for the grant of a licence restricted to three-wheeled vehicles in category P.

Provision is made by regulations 10, 12 and 13 and the Schedule for a certificate of the successful completion of an approved training course for motor cyclists to be restricted to motor bicycle and side-car combinations or three-wheeled mopeds.

The period of validity of a certificate of successful completion of an approved training course for riders of motor bicycles and mopeds is reduced by regulation 10(3), amending regulation 68 of the principal Regulations and regulation 11 amends regulation 69 so as to modify the exemptions from the requirement to complete such courses.