Anyone driving a british registered truck on british roads, should have a licence to do so issued from swansea,and not on any sort of grandfather rights.
No matter how long they have held a licence in their own country they should be made to take first a verbal theory test " in English" and then like any british person take the practical test a class at a time.
This shoiuld also apply to brits who wish to drive abroad.
rocky 7:
Anyone driving a british registered truck on british roads, should have a licence to do so issued from swansea,and not on any sort of grandfather rights.
No matter how long they have held a licence in their own country they should be made to take first a verbal theory test " in English" and then like any british person take the practical test a class at a time.
This shoiuld also apply to brits who wish to drive abroad.
You have not thought this one through have you?
Rocky dear lad…‘Why don’t you just try and be better than them’…I know it’s hard.
Hi Rocky 7.Unfortunately European law states that it is permitted for any person within the E.U. to live and work in another country.This also means that you can drive in any E.U.country with a licence from any other.The theory was that we all have ,more or less, the same standards of driving and testing.The practice is,however different.
I myself have lived and worked in many countries with the same licence.Inow live in Lappland and am driving with a Dutch h.g.v. licence.I only have to change this for a swedish one when it expires.Does this make me incompetent or a danger on the road after nearly 40 yrs of driving trucks as far afield as Europe,Russia,Saudi,Afghanistan,Canada and now above the Arctic Circle which is,for 6 months of the year,ice and snow.
I appreciate what you are saying but not everyone is a bad driver within Europe.the problem is more with the ‘‘new’’ members who have little driving experience and who are suddenly thrust into the ‘‘modern world’’
Take care.Mike
hutpik:
Hi Rocky 7.Unfortunately European law states that it is permitted for any person within the E.U. to live and work in another country.This also means that you can drive in any E.U.country with a licence from any other.The theory was that we all have ,more or less, the same standards of driving and testing.The practice is,however different.
I myself have lived and worked in many countries with the same licence.Inow live in Lappland and am driving with a Dutch h.g.v. licence.I only have to change this for a swedish one when it expires.Does this make me incompetent or a danger on the road after nearly 40 yrs of driving trucks as far afield as Europe,Russia,Saudi,Afghanistan,Canada and now above the Arctic Circle which is,for 6 months of the year,ice and snow.
I appreciate what you are saying but not everyone is a bad driver within Europe.the problem is more with the ‘‘new’’ members who have little driving experience and who are suddenly thrust into the ‘‘modern world’’
Take care.Mike
Fair point… 
Armagedon:
Rocky dear lad…‘Why don’t you just try and be better than them’…I know it’s hard.
At 68 and with over 40 years driving class one under my belt without any serious incidents i think I can safely say I am better than the majority of them.
I am not saying that they are all bad drivers, what I am saying is they should all be up to UK standards to drive on UK roads.and hold UK driving licences.
I think from my point of view, is that the roads on the continent, are far emptier than here.(on the motorways at least) Then they arrive on our little island, with our ridiculously old fashioned infrastructure.
And have to vie for position with the rest of us. And being on the other side is far more difficult.
I say cut 'em some slack…But that’s my point of view. 
And yet if you want to work in canada as a truck driver you must take there hgv test !!!
But i agree if you want to come here and live and work as a hgv driver for a uk company you must take at least a 2 day coruse and understand the highway code to show you are able to drive a 44 ton truck safely.
And thats the same for me if i went to holland to live and work i would expect the same deal
bigvern1:
I think from my point of view, is that the roads on the continent, are far emptier than here.(on the motorways at least) Then they arrive on our little island, with our ridiculously old fashioned infrastructure.
And have to vie for position with the rest of us. And being on the other side is far more difficult.
I say cut 'em some slack…But that’s my point of view.
Im’e sorry Vern I cant agree with you.
You cant afford to “cut them some slack” when lives are at stake.and its not the “driving on the wrong side” that is the problem, Its lack of training and experience, dont forget ,for them its not only the wrong side of the road its also the wrong side of the cab.when driving a british truck.
I don’t mean cut slack to dangerous drivers. I mean for the best part they drive like us, good or bad. I just reckon it’s a tad more difficult driving over here on overcrowded, antiquated streets.
But should we take tests to drive over there…And would we be happy to do so?
rocky 7:
bigvern1:
I think from my point of view, is that the roads on the continent, are far emptier than here.(on the motorways at least) Then they arrive on our little island, with our ridiculously old fashioned infrastructure.
And have to vie for position with the rest of us. And being on the other side is far more difficult.
I say cut 'em some slack…But that’s my point of view.Im’e sorry Vern I cant agree with you.
You cant afford to “cut them some slack” when lives are at stake.and its not the “driving on the wrong side” that is the problem, Its lack of training and experience, dont forget ,for them its not only the wrong side of the road its also the wrong side of the cab.when driving a british truck.
It makes no difference what hand drive the thing is or where it’s being driven.
I went directly from passing my test on a right hand drive truck to driving centre drive 10 foot wide fire trucks through urban areas and the only way to get experience is by doing the job,which is how those British drivers,on international work,driving right or left hand drive trucks to Asia,did it all with just their British licences.
So what’s the big issue now with foreign drivers driving on their home licence in every country they drive in and that includes the US and Canada where the colonials seem to have forgotten where they came from. 
Either a driver is good enough to drive anything anywhere or not simples and it should make no difference where the thing is registered.
I agree wholeheartedly with Big Vern,I am quite sure if British drivers no matter how experienced spent the whole day driving the Peripherique around Paris,which I liken our lousy road network too,then British drivers would be equally condemned.I spend most of my time ‘across the water’ and I do send all of you my deepest sympathy,4 days the other week in the UK and I almost considered an occupation change.
Armagedon:
I agree wholeheartedly with Big Vern,I am quite sure if British drivers no matter how experienced spent the whole day driving the Peripherique around Paris,which I liken our lousy road network too,then British drivers would be equally condemned.I spend most of my time ‘across the water’ and I do send all of you my deepest sympathy,4 days the other week in the UK and I almost considered an occupation change.
I’ve said it before…If I could stay over in Europe I would. Can’t stand doing UK deliveries.
But ain’t the peripherique fun?!
Armagedon:
I agree wholeheartedly with Big Vern,I am quite sure if British drivers no matter how experienced spent the whole day driving the Peripherique around Paris,which I liken our lousy road network too,then British drivers would be equally condemned.I spend most of my time ‘across the water’ and I do send all of you my deepest sympathy,4 days the other week in the UK and I almost considered an occupation change.
The Peripherique is a bit like the North Circular except no one gives a zb about driving at 40 mph or speed cameras like the North Circ so it’s much better 
.But these days no one needs to use it anyway unless they have to go to Paris.
Carryfast:
Armagedon:
I agree wholeheartedly with Big Vern,I am quite sure if British drivers no matter how experienced spent the whole day driving the Peripherique around Paris,which I liken our lousy road network too,then British drivers would be equally condemned.I spend most of my time ‘across the water’ and I do send all of you my deepest sympathy,4 days the other week in the UK and I almost considered an occupation change.The Peripherique is a bit like the North Circular except no one gives a zb about driving at 40 mph or speed cameras like the North Circ so it’s much better
Or have a ■■■■■ sat-nav! 
bigvern1:
I don’t mean cut slack to dangerous drivers. I mean for the best part they drive like us, good or bad. I just reckon it’s a tad more difficult driving over here on overcrowded, antiquated streets.
But should we take tests to drive over there…And would we be happy to do so?
FORTUNATELY i MANAGED 20 ODD YEARS OVER THE WATER WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT IF i HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO DO SO i WOULD HAVE GLADLY TAKEN A TEST.
i DROVE MAINLY RIGHT HOOKERS BUT THE FIRST TIME I DROVE A LEFT HOOKERi IT TOOK ME SOME TIME AND A FEW NEAR MISSES BEFORE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, IT WAS MORE GOOD LUCK THAN GOOD JUDGEMENT THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY CAN JUMP OUT OF ONE INTO THE OTHER WITHOUT THINKING IS A BLOODY LIAR
PS I wasn’t shouting ,my cap lock got stuck LOL
rocky 7:
bigvern1:
I don’t mean cut slack to dangerous drivers. I mean for the best part they drive like us, good or bad. I just reckon it’s a tad more difficult driving over here on overcrowded, antiquated streets.
But should we take tests to drive over there…And would we be happy to do so?FORTUNATELY i MANAGED 20 ODD YEARS OVER THE WATER WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT IF i HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO DO SO i WOULD HAVE GLADLY TAKEN A TEST.
i DROVE MAINLY RIGHT HOOKERS BUT THE FIRST TIME I DROVE A LEFT HOOKERi IT TOOK ME SOME TIME AND A FEW NEAR MISSES BEFORE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, IT WAS MORE GOOD LUCK THAN GOOD JUDGEMENT THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY CAN JUMP OUT OF ONE INTO THE OTHER WITHOUT THINKING IS A BLOODY LIARPS I wasn’t shouting ,my cap lock got stuck LOL
If you took your argument to it’s logical conclusion you’d need to have taken a test in every country that you needed to drive in but if it’s ok (which it is), for foreign drivers to drive a vehicle,registered in the country they took their test in,in any country what’s the big problem with foreign drivers just driving foreign registered trucks in whatever country they are based in using the same licence 
.
On the issue of jumping from one vehicle to another that’s just what I had to do,on my first job as a new driver,with anything including centre drive and driving a centre drive,ten foot wide truck,through Feltham high street,and over the railway bridge there,most situations had to be a well judged near miss but that’s not the same thing as a near accident and I’m not lying when I say it was more by good judgement than good luck.
rocky 7:
bigvern1:
I don’t mean cut slack to dangerous drivers. I mean for the best part they drive like us, good or bad. I just reckon it’s a tad more difficult driving over here on overcrowded, antiquated streets.
But should we take tests to drive over there…And would we be happy to do so?FORTUNATELY i MANAGED 20 ODD YEARS OVER THE WATER WITHOUT INCIDENT BUT IF i HAD BEEN REQUIRED TO DO SO i WOULD HAVE GLADLY TAKEN A TEST.
i DROVE MAINLY RIGHT HOOKERS BUT THE FIRST TIME I DROVE A LEFT HOOKERi IT TOOK ME SOME TIME AND A FEW NEAR MISSES BEFORE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, IT WAS MORE GOOD LUCK THAN GOOD JUDGEMENT THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR QUITE A WHILE, AND ANYONE WHO SAYS THEY CAN JUMP OUT OF ONE INTO THE OTHER WITHOUT THINKING IS A BLOODY LIARPS I wasn’t shouting ,my cap lock got stuck LOL
So I am the bloody liar then 
I drive my friend’s or falimy cars every time when I am in Poland no problem.
FORTUNATELY i MANAGED 20 ODD YEARS OVER THE WATER WITHOUT INCIDENT
SOME TIME AND A FEW NEAR MISSES BEFORE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, IT WAS MORE GOOD LUCK THAN GOOD JUDGEMENT THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR QUITE A WHILE,
So an accident is not an incident■■?
DoubleDutch:
FORTUNATELY i MANAGED 20 ODD YEARS OVER THE WATER WITHOUT INCIDENT
SOME TIME AND A FEW NEAR MISSES BEFORE I GOT THE HANG OF IT, IT WAS MORE GOOD LUCK THAN GOOD JUDGEMENT THAT I DID NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT FOR QUITE A WHILE,
So an accident is not an incident■■?
As I once mentioned before. Never had an accident in 20 years, but seen dozens in the mirror