Explanatory note

These Regulations amend regulation 3 of the Vehicle Drivers (Certificates of Professional Competence) Regulations 2007 (the “2007 Regulations”) to further transpose Council Directive 2003/59/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15th July 2003 on the initial qualification and periodic training of drivers of certain road vehicles for the carriage of goods or passengers (OJ No. L226, 10.9.2003). These Regulations extend to the United Kingdom.

Regulation 2(2) amends regulation 3(2)(c) of the 2007 Regulations to provide that the 2007 Regulations do not apply where a person is driving a relevant vehicle to or from a “relevant test” for the purposes of technical development, repair or maintenance.

Regulation 2(3) inserts new sub-paragraph (h) into regulation 3(2), which applies a new exemption to vehicles being driven in accordance with all the conditions in new paragraph (3).

Regulation 2(4) adds new paragraphs (3) and (4) into regulation 3 of the 2007 Regulations, to provide that the 2007 Regulations do not apply where a relevant vehicle is being driven by a person whose principal work activity is not driving such vehicles, where, apart from any fixed items, no goods or passengers are being carried, and where the vehicle is only being driven within a limited area.

An Explanatory Memorandum and an Impact Assessment showing the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business, charities, voluntary bodies and the public sector has been prepared and is available alongside the instrument on the website www.legislation.gov.uk.