Updates and advice to motorists on abolition of the counterpart to the photocard driving licence.

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From:Driver and Vehicle Licensing AgencyFirst published:18 July 2014Last updated:22 December 2014 , see all updatesPart of:Transport

Updates and advice to motorists on abolition of the counterpart to the photocard driving licence.

From 8 June 2015, the photocard licence counterpart will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA.

What this means for you

Photocard driving licence holders:

When DVLA stops issuing the counterpart, you should destroy yours but you still need to keep your current photocard driving licence.

You’ll still be able to use the counterpart driving licence to change your address with DVLA. You can also change your address online.

Paper driving licence holders (those issued before 1998)

These will remain valid, and should not be destroyed. From 8 June 2015 endorsements/penalty points will no longer be recorded on these driving licences. This information will be held on DVLA’s driver record, and can checked online, by phone or post.

The next time you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.

Entitlements/penalty points and the status of your driving licence won’t change

Abolition of the Paper Counterpart to the Photocard Driving Licence

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Updates and advice on abolition of the driving licence paper counterpart.

In 2015, DVLA will no longer issue the paper counterpart to the photocard driving licence.

You can check your driving licence record online, by phone or post.

What this means for you

You do not need to take any action, just keep your current photocard driving licence.

If you have an old style paper driving licence issued before the photocard was introduced in 1998, this change won’t affect you, and you should keep your licence.

The next time you need to update your name, address or renew your licence, you will be issued with a photocard only.

Entitlements, penalty points and the status of your driving licence won’t change.

What to do with your paper counterpart

When DVLA stops issuing the counterpart of the driving licence, those drivers who already have a counterpart may destroy it.

You’ll still be able to use the counterpart driving licence to change your address with DVLA. You can also change your address online.

Organisations and businesses that check the driving licence counterpart

DVLA is developing a new digital enquiry service for launch later this year that will allow organisations and businesses (such as employers and car hire companies) to view information they can currently see on the driving licence counterpart.

This new service will be offered in addition to the existing services, but is designed for those who have a business need for real-time access to the information and may not wish to call DVLA or be in a position to use an intermediary.

Driving licence information via this service will only be made available to those who have a right to see it, and with the knowledge of the driving licence holder.

DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) have announced today (9 December 2014) the MyLicence service.

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DVLA and the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) have announced today (9 December 2014) the MyLicence service.

MyLicence is part of a joint initiative between DVLA and MIB delivering the first digital sharing initiative for the motor insurance industry involving driver details.

The initiative is the first of its kind and was developed in partnership with the Association of British Insurers in response to the government’s Insurance Industry Access to Driver Data programme and DVLA’s ongoing aims to digitise the driver data it holds.

The launch of MyLicence is an important step in allowing motor insurers access to driver information. It will act as a deterrent against insurance fraud and in some cases, should reduce insurance premiums for GB motorists. MyLicence aims to protect motorists from unwittingly making false declarations regarding their motoring convictions which could invalidate their insurance and will improve road safety by providing a more accurate risk assessment of drivers.

Transport Minister Claire Perry said:

MyLicence is good news for motorists and good news for the motor insurance industry. This government is investing in the service which will allow insurers to price much more accurately which should reduce premiums for honest motorists.

Participating insurers will need the licence holders permission and driving licence number to allow secure access to entitlements, convictions and other relevant motoring history. You can view your DVLA driving record online, for further information on the MyLicence service, visit MyLicence.

Overloading a Mininbus

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This CTA Advice Note highlights the risks of overloading a minibus and how to work out a vehicle’s payload. This Advice Note applies to organisations operating non-profit making voluntary sector transport.

Some minibuses are designed to enable drivers with only a category B entitlement on their driving licence to drive them. Drivers who have passed their car test from 1 January 1997 are restricted in the type of minibus they can drive. The restrictions for a driver with only a category B entitlement specify that to drive a minibus they:

Have to be 21 years old or older, up to the age of 70 years old (unless at 70 they pass a PCV medical and renew their minibus entitlement on their driving licence every three years)

    • Have held their licence of an aggregate period of not less than two years
    • Cannot tow a trailer
    • Receive no other consideration for driving other than out of pocket expenses

As well as all of the above points, there are two specific issues regarding weight limits which also have to be adhered to. These state that the driver:

  • May drive a vehicle with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) not exceeding 3,500kg, excluding any part of that weight which is attributable to specialised equipment intended for the carriage of disabled passengers; and
  • Not exceeding 4,250kg otherwise.

For more information copy the link below;

http://www.ctauk.org/UserFiles/DocumentsSecure/Registered%20Users%20Area/AdviceNotes/AN-Minibuses-and-Overloading.pdf

Country Roads – THINK!

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Country Roads

Brake before the bend, not on it

60% of all fatalities occur on country roads. These roads often have sharp bends, blind bends and unexpected hazards so brake before the bend to give yourself time to react and stay in control.

The Facts
60% of all fatalities occur on country roads
Three people die each day on average on country roads
The number of people killed on country roads is nearly 11 times higher than on motorways
In 2013, there were 1,070 fatalities and 9,104 serious injuries on country roads

THINK! Advice
The best drivers read the road ahead and anticipate potential hazards.
Look out for upcoming bends, hidden dips, blind summits and concealed entrances.
Country roads often have sharp bends. To stay in control and give yourself time to react to unexpected hazards, brake before the bend, not in it.
Overgrown verges, bushes and trees on country roads can block your view and potentially obscure an oncoming hazard. Always drive at a speed which will allow you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear (double that on a single track road). Allow more time to stop on wet or slippy surfaces.
The speed limit is a limit not a target. The national speed limit on single carriage roads is 60mph, but there will be times you need to drive under that in order to drive correctly for the conditions. In fact most people do on these roads – the average free flow speed is 48mph.
If you get stuck behind a slow moving vehicle be patient. Dips in roads, bends and other junctions joining your road often hide oncoming vehicles, so unless it’s absolutely essential, don’t overtake.
If passing more vulnerable road users such as horse riders, cyclists and walkers, pass wide and slow.
Even if you’re familiar with a country road, never take it for granted as the conditions can be different every time.

http://think.direct.gov.uk/video-country-roads.html

Source: http://think.direct.gov.uk/country-roads.html

Tax Disc

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From 1 October 2014, the paper tax disc will no longer need to be displayed on a vehicle. If you have a tax disc with any months left to run after this date, then it can be removed from the vehicle and destroyed. This includes customers with a Northern Ireland address, however they will still need to display their MoT disc.

You can apply online to tax or SORN your vehicle using your 16 digit reference number from your vehicle tax renewal reminder (V11 or V85/1) or 11 digit reference number from your log book (V5C)
Our latest video explains the changes to vehicle tax from 1 October 2014.

What this means to you
To drive or keep a vehicle on the road you will still need to get vehicle tax and DVLA will still send you a V11 or V85/1 renewal reminder when your vehicle tax is due to expire. This applies to all types of vehicles including those that are exempt from payment of vehicle tax or have a nil rate of Vehicle Excise Duty (VED).

Buying a vehicle
From 1 October, when you buy a vehicle, the vehicle tax will no longer be transferred with the vehicle. You will need to get new vehicle tax before you can use the vehicle.

You can tax the vehicle using the New Keeper Supplement (V5C/2) part of the vehicle registration certificate (V5C) online or by using our automated phone service – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0300 123 4321.

Alternatively, you may wish to visit a Post Office® branch.

DVLA are unable to check the vehicle insurance details for new keepers in Northern Ireland online or by phone. If you’re a Northern Ireland new keeper, you will need to tax at a Post Office® branch that deals with vehicle tax.

MiDAS Deregation

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DRIVING SCHOOL MINIBUSES
ADVICE FOR SCHOOLS AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES

This is non-statutory advice jointly produced by the Department for
Education (DfE), the Department for Transport (DfT) and the Association of Chief
Police Officers (ACPO) on driving licence entitlement when driving a school minibus. See more at;

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-school-minibuses-advice-for-schools-and-local-authorities