DVLA has clarified the rules governing supervising of learner drivers, including vehicle plus trailer combinations, H&C had learned.

Before January 1997, drivers who passed their car driving test were also granted implied entitlement to drive small lorries, buses and vehicle plus trailer combinations subject to certain restrictions. Up until now, learner (those who have not yet passed their test) drivers of horseboxes or of vehicle towing trailers have been able to do so under the supervision of a driver who gained their license before 1997, but who has not necesserily passed the trailer or lorry test.

The rules for holders of pre 1997 issued licences who supervise learner drivers in category C1 (lorries between 3.5 and 7.5 tons), D1 (passenger vehicles for nine to sixteen people) and vehicle plus trailer combinations will be changing on the 6th of April of this year.

Learner drivers will not be able to drive a vehicle on public roads unless they are being supervised by a qualified driver. The qualified driver (also known as the accompanying driver) must hold a full licence for the category of vehicle being driven, and must have held that licence for the relevant period of time – usually three years.

The DVLA believes that there are road safety issues involved where a person who has never passed the relevant driving test acts as the supervisor for a leaner driver.

These changes will not affect anyone’s existing entitlement to drive C1 or D1 vehicles or vehicle plus trailer combinations, but they will prevent anyone from acting as an accompanying driver in such vehicles if they only hold a pre 1997 license and not the full qualification to drive that vehicle or vehicle combination.

Anyone, particularly in the training industry, who currently relies on implied entitlements and wants to continue to act as an accompanying driver after the change is introduced will need to pass the relevant driving test(s) before 6 April 2010. The DVLA will ensure that such people are already considered to meet the requirement relating to the length of time that the full licence must have been held – usually three years – from the date of the change.

If they pass the relevant driving test(s) and meet the appropriate medical standards after the 6 April 2010, they will have to wait until they have held their new entitlement for three years before they can act as the supervising driver.