DfT confirms new safety requirements

Date: 29/3/2010

New safety requirements for motorcyclists and lorry and bus drivers are scheduled to come into force in 2013, the Department for Transport (DfT) has confirmed.

Announcing the new changes in conjunction with the Driving Standards Agency and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency, the DfT said the new measures are being introduced to ensure that Britain meets European requirements on training, testing and licensing for drivers.

The two current categories of motorbike will be replaced with three, while there will also be new rules for riders of larger motorcycles.

Bus and lorry drivers under the age of 45 will, from 2013, have to confirm their medical fitness to drive such vehicles, although a full medical report will not be required.

Chief executive of the DVLA Noel Shanahan said that the new regulations are designed to offer the least possible inconvenience for those working in the bus and haulage industry - with the majority already operating to "high levels of safety".