RHA has added its weight to a call on coach operators to provide evidence in support of a full removal of the “outdated” 50km, regular service restriction that currently applies to PCV drivers aged 18 and 19.
The trade body points to work done by the Department for Transport (DfT) to reduce the minimum age for train drivers to 18 from 20. It has been carried out to tackle an expected shortage of people in that profession and will come into force on 30 June.
Managing Director of the trade body Richard Smith says he “could not agree more with the reasoning” behind that decision. Mr Smith notes how the coach industry faces similar challenges and needs to lean on young people to ensure a stable future workforce.
“We support bringing younger people into all industries across the road transport and commercial vehicle space,” he continues. “Easing the age-based restrictions on coach drivers would help us to future proof the [coach] industry.”
Removal of the 50km, regular service restriction on the youngest PCV drivers has long been sought by the coach industry and its representative bodies.
In 2024, the previous government opened a consultation on a proposal that would have seen the 50km limit dropped only on regular services. That work progressed no further after the general election, but the industry has repeatedly called for full abolition.
A hint of future movement came in late January, when DfT issued a survey seeking data from coach operators around driver shortages. That survey includes a suggestion that it is considering full removal of the restriction. Operators have been urged to participate and allow creation of the deepest evidence base possible.
Mr Smith has underlined how RHA believes the restriction should be removed completely. “We believe that 18- and 19-year-olds should be able to drive coach services without outdated restrictions,” he says. “If the logic works for trains, it works for coaches too. Let’s give young people the same opportunities across transport.”
The survey closes on 2 March. It can be found by clicking here.
