Renewal Of Drivers' Licences Without Test

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1945, Page 2

Renewal Of Drivers' Licences Without Test

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The period for which a motordriver’s licence may lapse without a compulsory driving test for renewal of the licence is amended from three to 12 months by an amendment to the Motor Drivers. Regulations, 1940, gazetted last night. The principal regulations in 1940 provided that if a lapsing 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 wartime shortage of traffic inspectors. Recently the three months’ limit wa.s restored, but the Transport Department, after further consideration, has decided that it is reasonable to permit the renewal of a license without 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 a driving license to undergo a test.

The amendment gazetted last night also provides that the Minister of Transport may waive the minimum age limit of 18 years for a 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. the emergency regulation recently revoked.