Road tests allowed

Press, 1 November 1979, Page 1

Road tests allowed

PA Wellington Motor-vehicle repairers will be able to road-test a vehicle on its earless day as a result of an amendment to the earless day regulations announced yesterday by the Minister of Energy (Mr Birch). The Minister said that i with more than half of all I the vehicles involved in 1 the scheme having TuesI day or Wednesday as their I earless day, an uneven work flow had resulted ' and repair shops were facj ing staffing difficulties ! and inefficiency. “A dispensation has been approved, enabling a person whose principal occupation is the servicing or repairing of motor-ve-hicles, to drive a motorvehicle on its earless day." Mr Birch said “Such driving will be limited to within a radius of 10km of the workshop, for road-testing the vehicle or delivering it to another workshop.” Mr Birch said the Gov- : ernment had also decided I to amend the regulations I to enable the issuing of temporary permits to classes of people, as well ! as to individuals to cover I activities in the public interest. “This change will make it possible to provide permits for various organisa- ; tions such as Meals on j Wheels, for the use of members who have to he I called out on their earless day,” Mr Birch said. ' It will also enable permits to be issued to i school principals and headmasters for the use of i relieving teachers called I out on their earless day. The permits will be valid for 12 months.