Britain: An official handbook > 1977

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BRITAIN 1977: AN OFFICIAL HANDBOOK
from vehicles, are safer than the roads they replace and surveys have shown
they result in a marked fall in casualties. There are three classes of national
speed limit: a general limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) in built-up areas; a limit of
70 mph (113 km/h) on motorways; and temporary fuel-saving limits of 60
mph (97 km/h) and 50 mph (80 km/h) on other non-motorway dual and single
carriageway roads respectively. To meet local needs the urban limit can be
raised and the other limits lowered on specific stretches of road. Other measures
directed primarily towards road safety include the provision of pedestrian
crossings and the system of road markings and traffic signs. A computer-
controlled signalling system has been installed on most busy motorways to
warn motorists of' advisory speed limits in certain conditions and of lane
closures.
The design of vehicles, their use on the roads, and the maintenance of their
mechanical condition are controlled by regulations. The regulations are kept
under constant review, and amended whenever necessary in the interests of
safety or for control of pollution and noise. The Government intends to
introduce a ‘type approval’ scheme under which the sale of cars first manu¬
factured after the end of September 1977 and first licensed for use in Great
Britain after 1st April 1978 will not be permitted unless they are of a type
that has been certified as meeting the required standards. In Great Britain
private cars and light vans which are three or more years old must be tested
annually at private garages authorised as test stations. In Northern Ireland
private cars eight or more years old are tested at official vehicle inspection
centres. Heavy goods vehicles are tested annually at government test stations.
Public service vehicles must be specially approved before being licensed to
carry passengers, and are tested at regular intervals. Any vehicle may be
stopped on the road at any time by the police and examined.
Minimum ages for driving are: 16 for driving invalid carriages and mopeds;
17 for passenger vehicles with nine or fewer seats (including that of the
driver), motorcycles and goods vehicles not over 3-5 tonnes maximum
weight; 18 for goods vehicles over 3-5 but not over 7-5 tonnes; and 21 for
passenger vehicles with over nine seats and goods vehicles over 7-5 tonnes.
All drivers of motor vehicles, unless they have either held a full British
licence or passed the driving test in the last ten years, are required to pass the
test before being granted a full licence to drive. Until they pass the test they
must hold a ‘provisional’ licence, display ‘L’ (learner) plates on their vehicle
and be accompanied while driving (except on a two-wheeled vehicle or in a
one-seat vehicle) by a qualified driver. (Newly arrived residents of Britain
may drive under their overseas driving licences for three months before
becoming subject to these rules.) In Northern Ireland a driver having passed
the test is required to display an ‘R’ (restricted) plate for a one-year period
during which he must not exceed 45 mph (72 km/h). Professional driving
instructors must be approved by the Department of Transport. There are
schemes for special licensing and testing of drivers of heavy goods vehicles and
public service vehicles. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Centre at Swansea,
which began operating in 1973, will eventually deal with all licensing and
registration of vehicles and drivers in Great Britain.
The Road Traffic Acts, which embody the law relating to road users, are
enforced by the police and the courts. A person convicted of any of the 26
most serious offences is liable to be disqualified from driving for a period. The
standard of conduct for all road users and a summary of the requirements of
the law are set out in the Highway Code. A failure to observe the code does
not render a person liable to criminal proceedings but may be taken into