C1 License consultation....please sign!

[Lady Jane]

To drive an LGV which was gained passing a LGV test there is an annual D4 medical every year from the age of 65

Pre 97 C1 needs a D4 medical from the age of 70 and needs renewing every 3 years

Daft aint it -
LGV C1 gained by passing a test is yearly from age 65
LGV C1 pre 97 is every 3 years from age 70
Same licence category with different medical rules !!!

Ok - clearly ignorant question- what is an LGV C1?

 

[conniegirl]

Thanks, I wasn't aware of the fact you needed a doctors medical to drive C1 after 70. If you can afford a newer 7.5t the strength may well not be an issue but oin my experience of older vehicles that's not the case (have jsut bought a 3.5t as my 7.5t was getting real hardwork). The 7.5t is an Iveco which my mechanic says has an 'agricultural gear box' - and being fairly short everything was a bit of a reach!
I was hoping my comment in the survey would be considered in the context of cars, not just bigger vehicles where people can definitely self certify their health at the moment

Wow that must be a very old Iveco. My 7.5ton Iveco was a 1990 reg, it had a neat little 5 speed gearbox that was no different to driving my car. Everything was easily reachable and i’m 5ft3. The only thing you needed strength for was the ramp!

 

[ROG]

Oooh, I have a question then.

I have grandfather rights as I got my test in 1985. I drove 7.5 tonnes regularly until 1995, when I got the class 1 just before you had to do the 2&3 first.

I drove Class 2 wagons for many years, but have since downgraded first to a 7.5 tonne and now to a 4t.

I wish to keep driving my 4t horsebox.

I have both scenarios that you have detailed. Which route will I have to go re medicals?

You have 2 x LGV C1s

You follow the pre 97 C1 medical route if its just the C1 you want to keep

 

[ROG]

Ok - clearly ignorant question- what is an LGV C1?

A vehicle plated between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes with less than 10 seats

 

[Lady Jane]

Wow that must be a very old Iveco. My 7.5ton Iveco was a 1990 reg, it had a neat little 5 speed gearbox that was no different to driving my car. Everything was easily reachable and i’m 5ft3. The only thing you needed strength for was the ramp!

Mine's 2001 with a 5 speed. Its a 75E15. The biggest problem is I need the seat so far forwards the gear box is a little behind me and as I can still only just reach the clutch its hard on the knees. Steering is fine. Don't talk to me about the ramp.......

 

[Lady Jane]

A vehicle plated between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes with less than 10 seats

So LGV means its a seated vehicle so no horsebox is LGV

 

[Red-1]

So LGV means its a seated vehicle so no horsebox is LGV

My LGV had 3 seats, in the cab?

 

[Abi90]

In terms of the fact roads are busier now, all learner drivers learn to drive on busier roads and are therefore used to them (and have been taught how to navigate them) from the start.

I don’t think a test achieves much either, other than taking a snapshot of time when someone is nervous and under pressure. Instead I think there should be a series of training objectives (rather than set hours) than a qualified instructor can certify and tick of. Some people will sail through, others will need more time

 

[ROG]

So LGV means its a seated vehicle so no horsebox is LGV

Be odd to have any LGV without seats - even one ofr the driver !!!!!! LOL

A horse box usually has 2 or 3 seats in the cab and if plated between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes then it is a LGV C1

 

[teapot]

In terms of the fact roads are busier now, all learner drivers learn to drive on busier roads and are therefore used to them (and have been taught how to navigate them) from the start.

I don’t think a test achieves much either, other than taking a snapshot of time when someone is nervous and under pressure. Instead I think there should be a series of training objectives (rather than set hours) than a qualified instructor can certify and tick of. Some people will sail through, others will need more time

What learning to drive in today’s world doesn’t prepare you for is your mates instagramming every minute of the drive to Maccies, or trying to drive while your mates are messaging or ringing etc etc.

Driving lessons and the test have always been a false environment, but now? Probably 10x more so. (And I say that as a relatively new driver who did the latest test under full Covid conditions).

 

[SOS]

Not everyone who is post 1997 is in a modern, fancy car… all of ours are over 15 years old, only one of our cars has a radio and none have reversing sensors etc. The defender is the most “modern” with heated seats and I wouldn’t call that a vehicle that takes the thinking out of driving, it’s fairly manual!

We both did our trailer tests and were considering doing our 7.5t tests and getting a lorry. I’m on the fence as I found the trailer lessons useful, but I was also only 18 when I took the test, so very inexperienced driving. I have also had to park/reverse/turn peoples trailers who didn’t have to pass a test (grandfather rights) as they could only drive forward… so it seems pointless for half the population to have to take tests and the other half driving around with nothing. Ideally it should be a rule for everyone, but there would be outrage if it went the way of a test for all.

Either way I will be taking lessons as I need to know more about the care of a 7.5t vehicle. I’m concerned this will push the prices up lots like with trailers. However 3.5t lorry’s may come down in price as they would not be the only option and IMO are much less useful as very few can legally carry two horses.

 

[Abi90]

What learning to drive in today’s world doesn’t prepare you for is your mates instagramming every minute of the drive to Maccies, or trying to drive while your mates are messaging or ringing etc etc.

Driving lessons and the test have always been a false environment, but now? Probably 10x more so. (And I say that as a relatively new driver who did the latest test under full Covid conditions).

You’re clearly more popular than me!! I set my phone to “do not disturb - drive” so only calls come through from set people… but hands free technology is about 15 years old so not particularly new.

People should definitely be required to have training… the test, not so much. The training itself is an assessment

 

[teapot]

You’re clearly more popular than me!! I set my phone to “do not disturb - drive” so only calls come through from set people… but hands free technology is about 15 years old so not particularly new.

People should definitely be required to have training… the test, not so much. The training itself is an assessment

Oh I'm absolutely not, my phone's permanently on silent. My point was about the average 17 year old (which I am not!), what I see on instagram with people doing stories/reels while they're driving cars or indeed lorries, what I see with my own eyes, and the horror stories my driving instructor gave me about having to force teenagers to give up their phones for an hour and the abuse he'd get

So while new drivers learn in modern day busy conditions, there are now even more distractions that weren't around 20 years ago, distractions that aren't allowed in the lesson/test environment.

 

[ROG]

You’re clearly more popular than me!! I set my phone to “do not disturb - drive” so only calls come through from set people… but hands free technology is about 15 years old so not particularly new.

Hands free is just as dangerous as hand held
We see many driving one handed without any major issues
That means it is the act of communication with someone outside the vehicle which is the issue
The law is not well thought out

 

[Bobthecob15]

I've completed it but think we should keep the test, in my view its safer to have the theory, medical and separate test than not. I've got my C licence and am glad I have, I did tow for a while after the legislation changed and absolutely hated it...so cannot imagine how nerve wracking it would be with a larger vehicle for someone who has not had proper instruction and understands the legal obligations.