‘L’ SIGN REGULATIONS IN FORCE TODAY

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31074, 1 June 1966, Page 22

‘L’ SIGN REGULATIONS IN FORCE TODAY

As from today the new probationary licence regulations become effective and every person who gets his first driver’s licence is required to display a red “L” on his vehicle. The district Officer of the Transport Department (Mr D. L. Hogan), said yesterday that the best place would probably be inside the rear window of the vehicle. Motor-cyclists will continue to use their present plates. Cardboard signs have been distributed to all local authorities for free issue to new drivers but probationers may make their own. provided it is the correct size, shape and colour.

The “L," in red on a white or transparent background, must be 4in high and 3in wide, with the strokes Jin thick. The card or other background must measure sin by 4in. Stickers Available Soon In a few months, transparent, self-adhesive stickers will be provided at a small charge. They will be suitable for sticking on to the rear window and will peal off when necessary.

Mr Hogan said the new regulations were an attempt to make sure a person was a suitable person to be allowed to drive. There were no extra driving restrictions on a probationer but his licence could be more easily cancelled by the Courts. The “L” sign must be displayed when a probationer is driving anything from a private car to a heavy vehicle or a road machine, but it may be removed when a fullylicensed person is driving. Probationers may not teach another person to drive, nor may they drive an ambulance,

school bus, or any vehicle carrying passengers for hire or reward.

Displaying Of Sign All new drivers must display the sign for two years or until they become 18 years old, whichever is the longer. This means that a person who gets his licence when he is 15 would have to display the sign for three years.

Those who renew their licence after a lapse of three years or more will undergo a one-year probationary period, and persons who are disqualified for one year or longer will also be probationers for at least one year after regaining their licence.

Courts now have the power to order a period of probation for any person convicted of any offence for which his licence could be endorsed. This is a wide provision which may be applied at the Court’s discretion to convictions for practically every driving offence other than the first or second conviction for exceeding the speed limit, where excessive speed is not complicated hy carelessness, or where danger is caused.