Germans and 7.5 Tonnes
Discussion
Has anyone else been mystified about this story that Germans in the UK who obtained their licences before 1997, were specifically targeted as lorry driver material by the government, because they had a 7.5 Tonne entitlement?
As I understand it, all British drivers who gained their licences in the same era also have the same - so why approach only Germans?
As usual, the journalists covering the story seem to have missed the obvious question in their rush to interview baffled Germans.
As I understand it, all British drivers who gained their licences in the same era also have the same - so why approach only Germans?
As usual, the journalists covering the story seem to have missed the obvious question in their rush to interview baffled Germans.
If you passed your driving test (licence category B) before 1 January 1997 then you automatically acquired licence categories BE, C1, C1E, D1 and D1E; sometimes known as grandfather rights or acquired rights.
On 27 September 2021, DFT wrote to HGV licence holders. Example:
https://twitter.com/alicebritton15/status/14440787...
Germans were not singled out and DFT didn’t write to C1 category licence holders with so-called grandfather rights. Unless I’m missing something then it’s poor journalism. Perhaps copied from a publication intended for Germans?
On 27 September 2021, DFT wrote to HGV licence holders. Example:
https://twitter.com/alicebritton15/status/14440787...
Germans were not singled out and DFT didn’t write to C1 category licence holders with so-called grandfather rights. Unless I’m missing something then it’s poor journalism. Perhaps copied from a publication intended for Germans?
It appeared on various news outlets yesterday and the day before. A quick search found The Independent headline
“Government asks German Residents to drive lorries even if they never have before” The letters came from the DFT and were signed by Baroness Vere. One publication interviewed a German Cambridge University professor who suggested that his wife struggled with the family Volvo so might not take up this ‘exciting opportunity’.
Although the whole thing is a bit bizarre the strangest part seems to be that the DFT overlooked the fact that British drivers had exactly the same entitlement.
“Government asks German Residents to drive lorries even if they never have before” The letters came from the DFT and were signed by Baroness Vere. One publication interviewed a German Cambridge University professor who suggested that his wife struggled with the family Volvo so might not take up this ‘exciting opportunity’.
Although the whole thing is a bit bizarre the strangest part seems to be that the DFT overlooked the fact that British drivers had exactly the same entitlement.
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