Latest NTET News
Changes to Driving Tests - Laden Vehicles
These new rules mean that vehicles which are designed to carry weight must carry weight when a driver is tested.
The rules affect drivers of cars requiring a towing licence and drivers of commercial vehicles – rigid/articulated
NEW RULES FROM SEPTEMBER 2013
The Driving Standards Agency is introducing a real total mass requirement for vehicles used for driving tests from 30 September 2013.
This means that vehicles must carry a minimum weight in order to be used for the driving test.
Your test will be cancelled and you can lose your fee if your vehicle doesn’t meet the rules.
VEHICLES AFFECTED BY THE NEW RULES
The new rules will affect vehicles in the categories in the table below.
Vehicle category Vehicle description
C Rigid lorry
C+E Articulated lorry
Trailers affected
The rules will also affect vehicle trailers used in the categories in the table below.
Vehicle category Vehicle description
B+E Car and trailer
C1+E Medium sized goods vehicle and trailer
C+E Large lorry and trailer
D1+E Minibus and trailer
D+E Bus or coach and trailer
REQUIREMENTS FROM SEPTEMBER 2013
From 30 September 2013 vehicles used in these categories of tests must have a load as shown in the table.
The load is shown for bagged sand or intermediate bulk containers (IBCs).
Vehicle category Vehicle or Trailer Minimum real weight Minimum load requirement
B+E Trailer 800Kg 600Kg of sand or a 1000 litre IBC
C Vehicle 10,000Kg 5 x 1,000 litre IBCs
C1+E Trailer 800Kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC
C+E Towing lorry and trailer 10,000 kg for lorry and 5,000 kg for trailer 5 x 1,000 litre IBCs (lorry) and 3 x 1,000 litre IBCs (trailer)
C+E Combination 15,000 kg 8 x 1,000 litre IBCs
D1+E Trailer 800 kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC
D+E Trailer 800 kg 600 kg of sand or a 1,000 litre IBC
2013 Rally List NOW ONLINE
The 2013 Rally List is now online. Just click on EVENTS at the top of the page to see details of all the authorised events. Most rallies have their own web pages and a link has been provided for you to access more information about the event.
2013 Photographic Competition
2013 Photographic Competition
Now into its third year, the Trust is keen to build on the success of the annual Photographic Competition and now invites entries for this year. Although the entries last year were down on the previous one, there were more new entrants wishing to have their work judged, which has spurred us on to continue with the same format to help further establish this event for the membership. The arrangements will be exactly the same as before but the closing date for entries will be 19th July 2013.
For those who would like a reminder of the details and categories, the following is a repeat of last year’s invitation to enter.
At steam events throughout the summer months we see large numbers of people photographing traction engines. Modern cameras of all types enable many people to obtain excellent photographs, so the Trust would like all members who are keen photographers to share their results with a wider public. To this end a photographic competition is planned with winners and commended entries to be displayed in the Trust’s marquee at the Great Dorset Steam Fair.
This free competition is open to all NTET and SAC members – and there will be prizes for the winners!
There will be four categories as detailed;
1. Portrait - this should be a sharp, colourful image of a steam traction engine (this means all types) with a complimentary background.
2. Working Steam - this should be active steam recreations of ploughing, threshing, woodcutting, stone crushing, fairground, carriage etc.
3. Road Runs - this is self-explanatory, but the image should be taken away from the rally scene on a club run for example, actually in action on the road, or at rest in preparation or at the destination.
4. People – these should be images of the crew, operating, preparing or disposing their engines, or restoring them. It is important the images are of the people involved rather than the engine.
5. An overall category – this will be judged at the end and will not necessarily be taken from the winners of the four categories but will be an image which best portrays real working steam in the preservation era.
These categories will be split into two groups – under 18’s or Apprentices and over 18’s or Seniors.
To enter, please submit no more than 6 prints per entrant of a maximum A4 (10”x 8”) size in either monochrome or colour. All prints are to be the work of the entrant who is a member of the Trust or SAC and must be taken in the preservation era. Previous winning prints should not be entered. With each submission it is important to include the following details;
Name and address and contact number, NTET / SAC membership number, date of birth if under 18 years, location of image, date taken if known and any other relevant details, all to be noted on the reverse of the print.
If the prints are to be returned to the entrant then please provide an SAE. The original image source may be required from a winning entrant to enable a large scale print to be done for display in the Trust’s marquee at GDSF. The copyright will remain with the author but reproduction by the NTET of the winning images is implicit in entering the competition.
The closing date for entries will be 19th July 2013. This will give the necessary time for judging, sourcing the original material, printing the images, and mounting them for display at GDSF.
The Trust will be using the services of up to four experienced judges, all of whom are highly respected in the field of photographing traction engines. Please note that the judge’s decision is final.
To enter please post your prints to:
NTET Photographic Competition,
4, Ivy Lane,
Ettington,
Stratford Upon Avon,
Warwickshire,
CV37 7TD
Reforming DSA
Reforming DSA and other motoring services agencies
You still have time to have your say on proposals for reforming DSA and other Department for Transport motoring services agencies.
The motoring services strategy is seeking views on reforms which will put customers and businesses closer to the hear of the 4 motoring services agencies.
Things you might like to comment on by 7 March 2013 include:
options for providing the practical driving test, including letting others carry out tests on our behalf in some situations
the services and products you'd like to see provided more by digital channels, eg car tax and driver licensing
how our agencies are organised and what services we could bring together
Have your say at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/motoring-services-strategy
Driving Test Applications
Driving test application forms
You can now book your theory or practical driving by post only if you’re paying by cheque or postal order.
The application forms to book have been changed, and are available on request by calling DSA.
Do it online
The quickest and easiest way to book is online. When you book online you can:
pay by credit or debit card
see all available appointments
Nearly 9 out of every 10 tests are now booked online. You can book online at http://www.gov.uk/booktheorytest and www.gov.uk/bookdrivingtest.
Help with your booking
You can call DSA on 0300 200 1122 if you:
need help booking your test online
would like to apply by post
The Funeral of Brian James
Dily’s James would like to thank all those friends and acquaintances of Brian for their messages of condolences and the many steam people that travelled, some of them long distances, to pay their last respects at Brian’s funeral.
News Category Archive
News Date Archive
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
