MOTOR REGISTRATIONS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 196, 15 May 1940, Page 7

MOTOR REGISTRATIONS

Few Applicants So Far In Wellington

NEW REGULATIONS ON DRIVERS’ LICENCES

Motorists in Wellington appear to be holding off applying for their new registration plates and renewal of drivers’ licences, as, though these have been available since Monday last few have so far been issued.

I luring this week plates are to be applied for at the Chief Post Oilice and suburban oilices, and drivers’ licences, in the city, are being issued from the tradio office, but on Monday next a combined issuing bureau will be opened in the Town Hall Concert Chamber.

The new plates (red and white) may be lixed on May 31, provided that the old plates are carried in the car on that day, but the reverse will not be accepted: no car may run with the old plates after May 31. There is a tightening up on the issue of drivers’ licences.

All applicants over 70 years of age will be required to supply a medical certificate as to their fitness to drive a motor vehicle. They must undergo the medical examination each year. No one under IS years of age will be permitted to drive a heavy truck (over two tons), and no one under 2-1 will be allowed to drive a taxi cab, though exception will be made for those who are already licensed to do such work. An annual medical certificate will bo required from drivers of all public passenger vehicles,, including passenger vehicles or trucks used for the carriage of school children, workmen, and so forth.

Save in the case of public passenger vehicles, imperfect hearing may not. bo a bar to the issue of a driver’s licence if a medical practitioner gives a favourable certificate as to the applicant’s fitness.

This year all applicants for renewals are required to till in a fresh application, giving additional particulars. Individual licences will give the right to drive certain types of vehicle only, but the limitations are not narrow. A car licence, for instance, covers the driving of a light trade motor (previously requiring a special licence) and a taxicar driver can drive a private car (it does not work the other way), but the driver of a special type of vehicle (trackless car, electric car, etc.) wili be restricted to that, one type. Tlie motor-cycle licence will cover a side-car as well; up till now a second licence was asked for by the regulations.

All applicants have to state whether they have ever been refused a licence and why, whether a licence has been revoked, and whether any conviction has been entered against them for driving offences during the past two years. Minor bylaw offences, parking for instance, arc not to be entered. If a driver allows his licence to lapse for more than three months, a renewal licence will not be issued till he has passed a fresh examination and driving test. Current petrol coupons will be invalid after June 1, and coupons to replace them will’be issued with the new registration plates.