POWER-CYCLE LICENCES

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30093, 29 March 1963, Page 13

POWER-CYCLE LICENCES

Automatic Issue Questioned The automatic licences for power-cycles granted at present to ail car licence•holders would not be revoked if the reclassification of licences as recommended in the proposed new standard driving tests came into force, the traffic superintendent of the Christchurch City Council (Mr J. F. Thomas) said in answer to a question at a meeting of the Christchurch Metropolitan Road Safety Committee. In the recommended reclassification, licences for private cars would not entitle holders to ride powercycles, as present - licences allow. Car licence-holders at present were entitled to drive power-cycles anywhere, at any time, even if they had never been on one before, said Mr R. W. Smith, a representative of the Canterbury Drivers' Union. This was a stupid concession. He asked whether the present licences would be revoked if the suggested reclassification was adopted. Mr Thomas said there would be no real advantage in doing so and it would not be acceptable to many persons. The meeting supported the recommended standard driving tests as outlined in a circular from the Commissioner of Transport (Mr A. E. Forsyth). The tests suggested were the result of at least two years’ intensive research on local conditions and overseas systems, said Mr Thomas, and they should result in a considerable increase in general driving standards.