The Community Transport Association (CTA) is seeking change to category D1 minibus driver licensing to avert what it says will be “a cliff edge” shortage in the sector.
That difficulty stems from change in 1997 to removed automatic D1 entitlement for anyone passing a car test. CTA says that policy was “specifically designed to support community transport,” but via a paper on the subject it adds that the youngest people with such D1 entitlement are in their mid-40s.
Those passing a car test after 1 January 1997 must gain a D1 licence separately, a process that the Association calls “costly and time-consuming.” It cites DVLA data showing only 1% of D1 entitlement sits with people aged under 46.
CTA believes that over the coming five years more than 2.9 million category D1 licences will be lost as holders reach 70, at which point the entitlement must be renewed. Almost half of volunteer community transport drivers in England gained a D1 licence via pre-1997 ‘grandfather rights’.
Speaking about the approach, CTA Head of Policy and Campaigns David Kelly says: “Current D1 licensing rules are the biggest cause of the UK’s growing shortage of qualified minibus drivers. Without change, many Community Transport services will be under threat. We’re currently engaging widely to hear the views of our members on the options for change.
“We look forward to working with the Department for Transport to implement a solution which is aligned with the ambitions of the new Road Safety Strategy, widens the pool of minibus drivers, and safeguards our sector for the long-term.”
The Association highlights work on change done by the Department for Transport in 2022 and 2023. Its own campaign for action “has now entered a new and important phase,” with three options in hand based on feedback from members, policy analysis, and government discussions.
One is to keep the status quo with investment in D1 training across the community transport sector to build a pipeline of qualified drivers. That would avoid legislative reform, but would bring complexity and costs for the government in administering funding.
The second is to replace the D1 test with a training-based upgrade, potentially with mandatory stipulations such as minimum age and medical standards, and a renewal requirement. Primary or secondary legislation would likely be needed here..
A final option is to exempt drivers operating under Section 19 and Section 22 permits from D1 test requirements, including alignment in Northern Ireland. Primary or secondary legislation would again likely be needed, as would mandatory standards.
While progressing the third option would be “important recognition” for the community transport sector, it may draw opposition from other fields, CTA cautions.
On a wider basis, the Association acknowledges that drawing change will be difficult and that amending D1 entitlement for community transport drivers has long faced resistance. “However, we also know that this change is vital to the long-term sustainability of our sector and the communities we serve,” it continues.
A consultation exercise will assist the gathering of evidence on the options. CTA plans to “mobilise a broad coalition of allies and supporters” to strengthen that and push for action. Efforts will intensify from the summer, it adds.
Without change to how community transport drivers’ D1 entitlement is handled, many services delivered by the sector “are at risk in the medium-term,” the Association believes.
