Driving a 110 CSW on a "B" only licence - not allowed?

On Sun, 5 Mar 2006 22:18:25 +0000 (UTC), Matthew Maddock scribbled the following nonsense:

Yep, tis true. Also explains why the crewcab 110s are selling so well, and why sales of the Merc Vito minibus things are doing so well, as that is an 8 seater.

Tell you, in some cases its a godsend, at least it means SWMBO can't drive bURRt ;-)

Read section 2 "Drivers who do not have minibus entitlement (Category D1)"

If you're over 21, have held your license for 2 years and are not doing it for hire and reward, and are not towing any size trailer you can drive a 110 CSW even if you don't have category D1. Can't drive in Europe though, I believe this particular piece of legislation was to "harmonise" us with them.

Regards

Willliam MacLeod

I think you missed out

i) you drive on behalf of a non commercial body for social purposes but not for hire or reward, unless operating under a permit

so no you can't

for hire or > reward, unless operating under a permit

What is a non-commercial body for social purposes? When this came out, people tried to get a fixed definition but failed, as far as I know it remains up to the courts to decide - about the only thing that could be taken from that is if you're driving it commercially for non-social purposes then you aren't going to be driving legally. Easy to remove a seat+belts from the back, install a cubby box and inform the DVLA it's now an 8 seater anyway if you want to be out of the grey area and don't need all the seats. I believe that there are some different exemptions with regards to >8 seats for vehicles over 30 years old as well though

110s don't quite come into that yet. IANAL, I looked at this ages ago and talked to police and DVLA then, things may have changed since. But I will disagree with blanket statements that those who have passed their tests since 97 can't drive vehicles with more than 8 seats (such as LR LWB station wagons).

Regards

William MacLeod

On or around Mon, 6 Mar 2006 16:53:48 -0000, "Andy.Smalley" enlightened us thusly:

hire or reward, unless

hire and reward over 8 passengers is full D1 territory. I have D1 (Category restriction 1) which allows up to 16 pax not-for-hire-or-reward.

also, you're not allowed to carry children under 16 on organised events in sideways-facing seats.

I presume you are not allowed to carry them on the roof either. I recall our school minibus back in the "old days" a transit with two benches on either side.

I wonder if the only thing that has got more dangeros since then is other drivers and that despite the proliferation of licence categories, standards of driving have fallen because of the greater perceptions of safety and invulnerability.

On or around Wed, 8 Mar 2006 06:08:45 -0000, "Larry" enlightened us thusly:

probably. The long bench seats with no belts can result in a heap of people in the front in the event of an unexpectedly rapid stop.

mind, the same legislation precludes the use of sideways fold-ups in the back of a disco - which have lap belts - which I reckon are no more dangerous than a normal seat with a lap belt - and since the legislation calls only for lap belts as a minimum standard...

That'll be fun in court - "I cite Willie MacLeods interpretation of the Law - - -that's why I did it, m'Lud. "

Non-commercial body = Scouts / Youth Group ? Section 19 Permit anyone?

Well in my landie riding anywhere but in the front passenger seat is going to have a modicum of danger cos there are no seat belts anywhere but for the driver and one passenger.

I have had passengers on the long back seat, but in urban driving where the risk is really not greater than you would find as a bus passenger.

It is really a matter of individual passenger responsibility and if they are prepared to accept the situation, then that is ok, with the age of the vehicle there is nothing illegal about it. I would say though that with kids you do owe more responsibility as an adult for what happens to them whatever the legal situation is .