LAPSED DRIVING LICENSES

Evening Star, Issue 25672, 21 December 1945, Page 8

LAPSED DRIVING LICENSES

RENEWAL WITHOUT TEST EXEMPTION EXTENDED TO 12 MONTHS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Dec. 20. The period for which a motor driver’s license may lapse without a compulsory driving test for the renewal of the license is amended from three to 12 months by an amendment to the Motor Drivers’ RegulatioAs, 1940, which was gazetted to-night, The principal regulations in 1940 provided that if a lapsed license was not renewed within three months of expiry, another test of the driver’s capacity must be made by the local body issuing the license. Later that provision was suspended owing to the war-time shortage of traffic inspectors. Recently the three months’ limit was restored, but the Transport Department, after further consideration, has decided that it is reasonable to permit the renewal of a license without a test at any time within 12 months of expiry. It is pointed out, however, that' local bodies have discretionary power and may require any person seeking to renew his driving license to undergo a test. The amendment gazetted to-night also provides that the Minister of Transport may waive the minimum age limit of 18 years for the driver of a motor truck in respect of any person employed on a farm or market garden. The Minister may approve the issue of a license in such cases to persons not less than 15 years of age. A similar provision was contained in an emergency regulation which was recently revoked.