DRIVERS’ LICENCES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27499, 20 September 1950, Page 6

DRIVERS’ LICENCES

There is a strong probability that, as from next year, drivers’ licences will be issued for three-year periods. A remit to this effect is to be placed before the next conference of the New Zealand Traffic Institute and it is considered that the suggestions will probably be adopted. While the position is not so difficult in Dunedin, traffic authorities in Auckland —and to a lesser extent the other northern centres—have great difficulty in coping with the annual rush.

The Auckland traffic superintendent, Mr C. Bland, has recommended that the American method of issued licences for a period of three years should be adopted. If that were done. Mr Bland said, he would suggest that the number of licences be alphabetically divided into three groups. For the first year, one third would be issued for one year, one third for two years and one third for three years. For each year there-

POSSIBILITY OF THREE-YEAR TERM

after only a third of the licences would be issued, but each would be current for three years. In the first year it would be advisable to overprint the licences 1,2 and 3 according to the periods for which they were issued. This system would meet the needs of the large majority of drivers, said Mr Bland. In the case of taxicab and omnibus drivers and drivers over the age of 70. where licences required annual examination or inquiry, they would be valid for one year. He also suggested that consideration should be given to redrafting and simplifying the application form. Although the matter has not been considered by local motorists’ organisations, there would appear to be some enthusiasm among individual drivers for the suggestion. The next conference of the New Zealand Traffic Institute will be held in the near future, at which time the position will be clarified.