It’ll keep the population down i spose!
delboytwo:
ROG
Interesting - I know the jump from car to rigid truck is much bigger than the jump from rigid to artic so I ask this question - why are rigid drivers allowed to take the artic test almost straight after the rigid one without having rigid experience firstyou take a test in a C+E and therefore how much experience you have driving a rigid should have no baring of you ability in a artic as it a different test
Very true. Who says that driving a rigid is any less demanding than driving an artic? The two disciplines simply require differing skill sets.
ROG:
delboytwo:
you take a test in a C+E and therefore how much experience you have driving a rigid should have no baring of you ability in a artic as it a different testorys:
There should be minimum a year from car license to truck license, no matter of age!Hmmm… do I see a differnce here
I think you should gain some experience on small vehicles before start driving any bigger vehicle - no matter rigid, artic or bus.
gogzy:
i would not like to see an 18 year odl driving an artic, i may only be 23 myself but im glad i had to wait till i was 21 to get my licence, got me more driving experience before i went for the big onesthey should have restrictions on what they can drive, eg 18 ton max,
you couuld’t drive maggie then…come on mate,you should know i’m willing to give anyone a try … 
V8Actros:
gogzy:
i would not like to see an 18 year odl driving an artic, i may only be 23 myself but im glad i had to wait till i was 21 to get my licence, got me more driving experience before i went for the big onesthey should have restrictions on what they can drive, eg 18 ton max,
you couuld’t drive maggie then…come on mate,you should know i’m willing to give anyone a try …
the maggie was an experience that i thank you alot for, ill prob never drive another one tbh, not because i dont want to but nobody really has them up here lol.
i know youll let anyone loose with your pride and joy…he let me loose in one LOL 
delboytwo:
limeyphil:
ROG:
Interesting - I know the jump from car to rigid truck is much bigger than the jump from rigid to artic so I ask this question - why are rigid drivers allowed to take the artic test almost straight after the rigid one without having rigid experience firstit wasn’t that long ago that you could go straight for your class 1.
i don’t know why they changed iti think there should be a full 2 week training course at whatever age. without needing to do a class 2 before doing class 1.
i think you will find that it was a long time ago 22 years in fact
Not true,
It’s just 21 years since I took my class 1, and I didn’t do class 2 first
acd1202:
It’s just 21 years since I took my class 1, and I didn’t do class 2 first
1979 - first test 7.5 tonner (chose that instead of car)
1988 (March) - 7.5 tonner to Artic
delboytwo:
limeyphil:
ROG:
Interesting - I know the jump from car to rigid truck is much bigger than the jump from rigid to artic so I ask this question - why are rigid drivers allowed to take the artic test almost straight after the rigid one without having rigid experience firstit wasn’t that long ago that you could go straight for your class 1.
i don’t know why they changed iti think there should be a full 2 week training course at whatever age. without needing to do a class 2 before doing class 1.
i think you will find that it was a long time ago 22 years in fact
It was nowhere near 22 years ago mate. It was commencing January 1998 (or thereabouts) that the licencing law on this changed.
I dont see the problem with this at all, as many folks have stated it’s all down to the attitude of the driver i passed my class 1 3 days after my 18th under the young driver training scheme. I never had any problems with it and used to take pride in the fact i was so young legally driving knowing that all eyes are upon you waiting for the inevitable mistake. Some qualifying restrictions should be in place to make it harder for the young saxo loving window licker to get his ticket say having 2 years experience of working with HGV/LGV plus a annual retest/ refresher course until your 21st.
ROG:
From 10 Sept this year the age for LGV drivers is going to be lowered from 21 to 18.
- Is the average 18 year old going to have the RESPONSIBILTY to be driving one
- Are the insurers going to be happy to insure them
- Will companies be willing to take them on
- Is this going to compromise road safety
News and video on this isssue - not sure how long the BBC will keep the access to it though
Why worry about it, they will never get a job because no insurance company will cover them - I suspect.
Personally, its no bad thing to encourage young people into the industry, but I do wonder if it’s safe to put someone in charge of 44 tonnes with inadequate large vehicle or general driving experience. I would think a better course of action would be to introduce a candidate to large vehicles in stages. For example start them on 7.5 tonners for 1 year at 18, then move to rigids (up to) 26 tonnes for another year and then from there to Atrics at 20 years old. I thought we already had a scheme like that called Young Drivers scheme or something - am I wrong??
I can just see “Lawyers for You” formulating their litigation claims when young spotty runs a car full of people over showing off to his mates in his shiny new Stoblams lorry… Can’t see insurance companies going for this at all.
I reckon companies will use this to there advantage. Many 18yr olds will be desperate for a job, companies will claim INSURANCE is through the roof but offer job is they recieve a reduced PAY RATE thus undercutting older, wiser, sounder and more professional drivers… And you thought the FOREIGNERS were shafting us by taking our jobs…?
Well I know I’m an old git now, but I took my car test in ‘64 and went driving artics in ‘68. I never had to take a test at all for an artic. We had an assortment of trailers at 28’ tandem, 30’ single, then 33’, 35’ and 40’ tandems. I spent a lot of my childhood, out with me dad in his lorry, all over the place, so I had plenty of learning time up my sleeve, first drove a yankee dodge artic at eight. So I s’pose what I’m saying is that it’s horses for courses. Some youngsters will handle their selves alright on the road, and some shouldn’t be out on their own… mind you, just like someone else said, that can apply to all ages.
But what about when you get your young blokes out there, doing the job much quicker than the older/wiser heads (I’m talking silly times), then find they can’t handle it and leave, having ■■■■■■ it up for everyone else. Believe me, I’ve seen it happen !
Give 'em a chance, but they have to have a tight reign kept on them.
On that radio report yesterday they reckoned the average gae for a UK HGV Driver was 50… 