I was recently asked a couple of questions about Driving licence codes:
- How does a full Category B licence holder go about removing the “01” restriction from their driving licence?
- Where can I find a schedule of the codes within regulations. I can find plenty of copies of the codes on government and other websites, but not within the schedule to a regulation. Do you know if they are not set out in regulation?
The first question is fairly straightforward send the licence to DVLA and explain why 01 should be removed – it is likely that at some time in the past the holder ticked the wrong box or maybe DVLA made a mistake.
Does it matter – well strictly speaking it isn’t right however, having a wrong code or failing to comply with code 01 is not, as I understand it, of itself an offence. The code is used in this country to alert policeman, employers, trainers etc. to the fact that this person needs glasses. However, as long as they can comply with the eyesight test there is no offence. They might have had corrective surgery or have grown out of an astigmatism and no longer need glasses or contact lenses.
Regarding the second question these codes do not appear in UK regulations because they are imposed (not sure thats the correct word perhaps obligatory would be better) under the terms of EU DIRECTIVE 2006/126/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 20 December 2006 on driving licences (Recast) a consolidate version of which you can find here.
If you scroll down to ANNEX I – PROVISIONS CONCERNING THE EUROPEAN UNION MODEL DRIVING LICENCE. Then down to number “12 additional information/restriction(s), in code form, facing the (sub)category affected.” You will see that the codes are listed 01 to 99
However, these do not match directly with the codes used in GB which you can view here,
This is because if you scroll back to the top of the EU directive you will find that under Article 1 Model licence paragraph 3. States – The microchip shall incorporate the harmonised driving licence data specified in Annex I. After consulting the Commission, Member States may store additional data, provided that it does not in any way interfere with the implementation of this Directive. In accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 9(2), the Commission may amend Annex I in order to guarantee future interoperability (the ability of computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information).
So, alongside the directive, members states can add other items for example you can read the codes used in Ireland here.
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