Cancer news

[gray_marian]

Googled, for those who are interested

1903 - Driving Licences are introduced; they originally cost five shillings (25p) and were renewable every three months from the post office.

1930 - Age restrictions and a form of driving test is brought in for disabled drivers. Full licences for disabled drivers valid for a year. The Road Traffic Act 1930 introduces a licensing system for P.S.V.s. (Public Services Vehicles).

1931 - P.S.V. drivers could be required to take a test, at discretion of Traffic Commissioners. First edition of the Highway code introduced.

16th February 1934 - Licences for lorry drivers are introduced under the Road Traffic Act, 1934. The licensing authority may require the applicant to submit to a practical test of their ability.

1935 - Voluntary testing is introduced by the Road Traffic Act, 1934, to avoid a rush of candidates when the test becomes compulsory. Mr. J. Beene is the first person to pass his driving test, at a cost of 7s/6d (37.5p).

1st June 1935 - Compulsory testing brought in for all drivers who started driving on or after 1 April 1934: around 246,000 candidates apply. The pass rate is 63% with 250 examiners taking at least nine, and up to sixteen, half-hour driving tests a day. Examining staff also make all test bookings. There are no test centres, examiners meet candidates at a pre-arranged spot such as a car park or railway station. Anyone buying a driving licence must put ‘L’ plates on the car and eventually take a driving test to get their full licence.

2nd September 1939 - Driving tests suspended for the duration of World War Two and resumed on 1st November 1946. During the war, examiners are designated Traffic Officers and supervise fuel rationing.

1st January 1940 - HGV licences and tests are suspended during World War Two.

18th February 1947 - A period of a year granted for wartime provisional licences to be converted into full licence without passing the test.

1950 - The pass rate for the driving test is 50%.

19th October 1956 - The test fee doubles from 10 shillings, to £1.

24th November 1956 - Testing suspended again during the Suez Crisis. Learners are allowed to drive unaccompanied and examiners help to administer petrol rations. Testing is resumed on 15th April 1957 and has continued uninterrupted ever since.

1959 - Examiner training is transferred to the newly acquired Stanmore Training School. Up until now, examiners have been trained ‘on the job’.

1963 - New grouping systems are introduced for driving tests and driving licences. A distinction is made between the test of competence and the test of fitness. The Road Traffic Act 1962 permits riders to ride motorcycles of more than 250cc after passing their test. Mopeds are placed in their own vehicle group for driving test purposes.

1st May 1965 - The application form for a driving licence is revised. The distance from which a driving test candidate must be able read a number plate is changed to 67 feet for 3 1/8 inch high characters.

10th May 1967 - The Road Safety Act 1967 paves the way for regulations covering the licensing and testing of H.G.V. (Heavy Goods Vehicle) drivers.

2nd July 1968 - The test fee rises to £1.15 shillings.

2nd June 1969 - Vehicles used in the test must not have dual accelerator control unless this has been made inoperable. A separate driving licence group for automatic vehicles is introduced. Candidates are required to produce their provisional driving licence to the examiner at the test and sign the examiner’s attendance record. Examiners may refuse to conduct a test if these requirements are not fulfilled.

25th June 1969 - The Vehicle and Driver Licences Act introduces new regulations, including a licence fee increase and the specification of vehicle groupings for the purposes of driving tests.

4th August 1969 - An up-to-date scheme is introduced for licensing and testing new lorry drivers.

1970 - The new H.G.V. test prompts a change in P.S.V. testing. Until now vehicle inspectors have carried out P.S.V. driving tests: this is taken over by examiners who are now H.G.V. qualified.

1972 - The demand for driving tests rises by 20%, and a further 15% in the following year, leading to a huge backlog of tests.

May 1975 - Candidates no longer have to demonstrate arm signals.

July 1976 - The Driving Establishment for testing examiners moves to Cardington. Newly recruited ‘L’ test examiners undergo four weeks of training.

March 1985 - P.S.V. driving tests become compulsory. Up until now, Traffic Commissioners decided whether local applicants took the test.

1988 - From now on driving tests are conducted under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

1st October 1989 - Prompted by allegedly high accident figures, the old-style ‘Part 2’ motorcycle test, where the examiner stands by the roadside, is replaced by the new, more demanding ‘pursuit test’. The examiner now follows the candidate on a motorcycle or in a car and maintains radio contact during the test.

1st April 1990 - The Driving Standards Agency (D.S.A.) is created as an executive agency of the Department for Transport.

1st May 1990 - Examiners give candidates a brief explanation of faults committed during the test, plus advice on areas for improvement.

November 1995 - The 'Pass Plus' scheme is introduced to help newly qualified young drivers gain valuable driving experience and reduce the risk of them being involved in an accident.

1st July 1996 - A separate written theory test is introduced, replacing questions asked about the Highway Code during practical test.

1st January 1997 - A new test category is created for a car with large trailer (B+E). Licence categories and tests are introduced for Direct Access and small motorcycles. The written theory test is introduced for L.G.V. and P.C.V. drivers.

1st March 1997 - Photographic I.D. is now required for both practical and theory tests.

1st June 1997 - If a new driver gains six or more penalty points during the first two years of driving, they lose their licence and must retake both the theory and practical driving test before being allowed back on the roads.

29th September 1997 - For car and motorcycle drivers, the minimum wait between tests of the same category is reintroduced for unsuccessful candidates, set at ten days. For lorry and bus driver testing, a minimum wait of three days between tests of the same category for unsuccessful candidates is introduced.

6th April 1999 - Cars being used for a driving test must now have a front passenger seat belt, head restraint and a rear-view mirror.

4th May 1999 - Changes to the ‘L’ test include extending the length of the test, randomising the emergency stop manoeuvre and failing candidates for committing 16 or more driving faults.

4th January 2000 - The touch-screen theory test is introduced.

1st February 2001 - People gaining a full car licence must now take C.B.T. (Compulsory Basic Training) before being able to ride a moped (50cc or less).

19th December 2001 - Candidates can now book their theory test via the internet.

14th November 2002 - A hazard perception element is introduced into the theory test; this uses video clips to test candidates’ awareness of hazards on the road.

1st September 2003 - 'Show me/Tell me' vehicle safety questions added to the beginning of the driving test.

24th October 2003 - Candidates can now book their practical driving test via the internet.

[John Pruden]

having a bad few days not slept for a few days ribs are not knitting so well and the nerves to stomach still tender breathing a lot better though both lungs working in tandem ? jp

[Charlie Hannah]

Give it time John lad earlie days yet you'll get there.The breathing is the main one you will soon be running around the block,wonder if Ted will keep up with you don't let him lag behind.Cheers

[John Gill]

Re driving. I still hold a valid hgv licence (lgv as it is now referred to ) for all classes of vehicle. From the age of 45 I had to be medically examined every 5 years to renew those categories. At 65 the renewal became yearly with a stricter medical. I renewed it last year and did a bit of agency driving, but having developed one or two health problems, I have (reluctantly) decided to call it a day. I still enjoy driving- will be touring France later this year.( don't tell Kong,we all know of his love for the French,he'll only want to hitch a ride).
Gilly

[cappy]

as my business slowly grew i needed a driver full time ......i put the word out and a west indian guy came to see me for the job .......he had a clean license and a good sense of humour ...which is something i like......he had no disability as far as i could see .......the only thing i could complain about was constant reports of the works transit outside the local betting office......as long as the job was done which it was .....i had no complaints.....afterthe weekend he always came and showed me a sparkling van clean and polished .......after 2 years or so i needed to change the van and advertised it in the local rag ......a guy came to see it and said he would have had it if it wasnt so damaged on the nearside......going out to see the so called damage i could notbelieve the scratches and damage on the nearside of the transit .....i called the driver into the office and was informed by himdidnt i know his left eye was a glass one ......itried not to laugh at this disability which i knew nothing of.....i had been truly conned .......semmingly because of the colour of african or west indian eyes it is very very hard to detect .....it was very hard to notice this problem......... putting the transit up for sale......i parked it nearside to the factory wall as our driver had been doing for 2 years.......a guy came to see it ......sold with no come back ......and bought it .....sadly as i left the offce a short while later .....i saw the new owner further up the road standing in a garage lokking at the damaged nearside........i didnt stop for petrol ......but didnt hear anything else i offered a job in the factory to the driver and he stayed a while but left later...... the call of the betting shop too strong .......strangely the next driver had a degree in mechanical engineering ......i was amazed that was thecase as i never new anyone who had a degree in anything.......a strange world indeed .........i never new whether a one eyed man was allowed to drive till this day ......but never held it against him ......i mean how could i .......we had our nelson and it never stopped him regards ......hope this wasnt boring.......cappy

[John Gill]

#96. I feel I must point out Cappy, old Horatio was more used to navigating ships of the line rather than beat up Ford Transits.

[John Arton]

Cappy
Your guy may not have been breaking the law. To comply with Dept. of Transport regulations regarding eye sight standards, apart from having to be able to read a number plate at a certain distance, you are also meant to have a field of vision of 120 degrees, 60 degrees either side of center. If you are monocular, that is you only have one eye, it can still be possible to meet this criteria but you must declare this when applying for a driving licence.
rgds
JA

[Keith Tindell]

That is correct John, i have lost most of the sight in one eye , due to a detached retina, and at 74 still able to drive with that problem. My eye sight is checked every six months for that reason. And Both sides of my car are pristine !!!!!,, KT

[John Gill]

That is correct John, i have lost most of the sight in one eye , due to a detached retina, and at 74 still able to drive with that problem. My eye sight is checked every six months for that reason. And Both sides of my car are pristine !!!!!,, KT

How about the front and back KT?

[Keith Tindell]

Ah well John, you cannot have everything !! KT