# The Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 1996, Note: Explanatory note


(This note is not part of the Regulations)
By virtue of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1996 (S.I. 1996/2824), separate driving tests are introduced in respect of motor cars with trailers (category B+E), trucks and vans of between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes maximum authorised mass (sub-categories C1 and C1+E) and buses having between 9 and 16 passenger seats whether or not they carry passengers for hire or reward (sub-categories D1 and D1+E). Provisional licences to drive these categories of vehicle may, however, only be issued to persons holding at least a licence to drive motor cars (category B). Those Regulations thereby implement the second Council Directive on driving licences, 91/439/EEC (OJ No. L237, 24.8.91, p.1).
These Regulations amend the Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 so as to enable a person who holds a provisional licence for such vehicles to drive them on a motorway. The current regulations already permit persons to drive on motorways large goods vehicles and passenger-carrying vehicles which are driven for hire or reward (since provisional licences for these may only be issued to persons holding category B licences).
The Regulations include transitional measures to prevent persons who currently hold provisional licences to drive some medium-sized vehicles (entitlement having been given concurrently with a provisional licence for category B) from driving them on motorways before they have at least a full category B licence.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1996/3053/note (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/motorways-traffic-england-and-wales-amendment-regulations-1996/note
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.