Explanatory note

These Regulations exempt vehicles authorised under the law of Northern Ireland for the carriage of passengers for reward in Northern Ireland, when used in Great Britain for the carriage of passengers on certain services between Northern Ireland and Great Britain, from the requirements of sections 127 and 144 of the Road Traffic Act 1960 (which lay down requirements as to the licensing of public service vehicles and their drivers) and section 4 of the Transport Act 1980 (which requires stage carriage service to be provided under a road service licence). In the case of vehicles used on regular and shuttle services as defined in Council Regulation No. 117/66 (Regulation 2) the vehicles must be used in Great Britain under an authorisation issued by the Minister of Transport (Regulation 4).

Regulation 6 provides for applications for such authorisations to be made to the Minister of Transport and that the applicant shall pay a fee of £10 in respect of the application.

Regulation 7 disapplies the requirements of the Public Service Vehicles (Conditions of Fitness, Equipment and Use) Regulations 1972 (S.I. 1972/751) in the case of vehicles to which these Regulations apply as defined in Regulation 3.

The Regulations replace the provision made by Regulation 12 of the Road Transport (International Passenger Services) Regulations 1973 (S.I. 1973/806) as amended by the Road Transport (International Passenger Services) (Amendment) Regulations 1979 (S.I. 1979/654) as to shuttle services in relation to vehicles within the scope of these Regulations and they make new provision as to regular services and occasional services (Regulation 5). The said Regulations of 1973 and 1979 are revoked by the Road Transport (International Passenger Services) Regulations 1980 (S.I. 1980/1459).