Developments in Vehicle Regulation, Driver Testing and Licensing
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R T A Roads and Traffic Authority Oral History Program Developments in Vehicle Regulation, Driver Testing and Licensing Summary Report Researched and compiled by OHM Consultants (Mary Ann Hamilton and Sue Andersen) November 1999 ISBN 0 7313 0117 X Published December 2000 RTA/Pub 00.131 Prepared by. OHM Consultants (Mary Ann Hamilton and Sue Andersen) for. RTA Environment and Community Policy Branch Level 10 Pi T A 260 Elizabeth St SURRY HILLS 2010 Telephone (02)9218 6083 Fax: (02)9218 6970 V Copyright e NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. Roads and Traffic Authority 2000 www.rta.nsw.gov.au RTA Some comments about Oral History... Oral history has been described as "a picture of the past in people's own words". It reveals what you often won't find in the files and the history books - the facts and the real reasons things happened. It is told by the people who were there - those who were involved, who made it happen, who were affected - in the colour, passion and inflection of their own voices. Oral history accounts can also tell about relationships, perceptions, social and political climates, all of which are part of life and influence our actions and those of others. It often reveals the unsung heroes, the names of those actually responsible for innovations and important changes. So, oral history provides a counterbalance to the formal written record by providing the personal, intimate, human and social account of events and why they happened. The RTA Environment and Community Policy Branch established an Oral History Program in 1997, to investigate various topics of historical interest. Developments in Vehicle Regulation, Driver Testing and Licensing is the fourth thematic oral history to be undertaken as part of the Program. As with previous projects, this oral history did not seek to present a definitive history of developments in this subject area, rather it involved a recounting of related stories, told by those involved. Over the years, there have been many and far reaching changes in the areas of vehicle regulation, driver testing and licensing and to the various organisations entrusted to administer these matters. These changes have been in response to a huge increase in the number of vehicles travelling on NSW roads, from 6,945 in 1911 to over 3.7 million in 1999. The major output of this project was some 35 hours of taped interviews with people who have had long standing experience in the areas of vehicle regulation, driver testing or licensing. Some who were initially employed in the 1950s had worked with the organisation as it changed from the Department of Road Transport and Tramways to the Department of Motor Transport in 1952 and then to the Roads and Traffic Authority in 1989. This compilation tape features some of the key themes uncovered during the course of the project, including organisational change and decentralisation; early data handling procedures and the development of DRIVES; car and truck driver licensing; regulation of the driver instruction industry; number plate series; the motorcycle rider training scheme; heavy vehicle load limits; vehicle standards and certification; photo licences and legislative issues. The opinions expressed in the oral history interview tapes are those of the individuals concerned and do not necessarily represent in whole or in part the position of the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1. The Client 1 1.2. Liaison 1 1.3. Study Area 1 1.4. Authorship and Acknowledgments 1 2.0 ROADS AND TRAFFIC AUTHORITY DEVELOPMENTS IN VEHICLE REGULATION DRIVER TESTING AND LICENSING 3 2.1. Aims 3 2.2. Methodology 3 3.0 OVERVIEW 5 4.0 DEVELOPMENT OF THE ORGANISATION 7 4.1. Location and Accommodation 7 4.2. Decentralisation to Regional Areas 10 4.3. Amalgamation 11 5.0 DEVELOPMENTS IN WORKPLACE TECHNOLOGY 15 5.1. Manual Data Handling 15 5.2. Punch Card System 16 5.3. On-line Computer System 18 5.4. DRIVES 19 6.0 DEVELOPMENTS IN VEHICLE REGISTRATION 22 6.1. Number Plates 22 7.0 DEVELOPMENTS IN DRIVER TESTING AND LICENSING 25 7.1. Drivers Licences 25 7.2. Photo Licences 26 7.3. Firearm Licences, Proof of Age Cards 28 7.4. Driver Testing 29 7.5. Corruption within the Driver Testing and Licensing Area and Regulation of the Driver Instruction Industry 32 7.6. The Development of the Motorcycle Rider Training Scheme 33 7.7. Heavy Vehicle Competency Based Assessment System 34 8.0 REGULATION OF THE HEAVY VEHICLE INDUSTRY 36 8.1. Some Regulatory Measures for Heavy Vehicles from the early 1950s to 1970s - State Coordination Permits and Road Maintenance Taxes 36 8.2. Regulation of Heavy Vehicles from the Late 1970s - Mobile Inspection Teams and Heavy Vehicle Inspection Scheme 38 8.3. Mass Limits and Loading Regulations 39 8.4. Heavy Vehicle Regulation in the 1990s - Safe-T-Cam 40 8.5. Alternative Compliance Scheme 41 8.6. Corruption within the Heavy Vehicle Industry 42 9.0 NATIONAL AND STATE LEGISLATIVE ISSUES 43 9.1. National Road Transport Commission 43 9.2. Road Transport (Heavy Vehicle Charges) Act 1995 ; 43 9.3. Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Act 1997-1998 43 9.4. Road Transport (Mass Loading & Access) Regulation 1996 43 9.5. Road Transport (Driver Licensing) Act 1998-1999 44 9.6. Legislation Regarding Dangerous Goods and Compliance Enforcement ; 44 10.0 CONCLUSION 45 11.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY 46 12.0 APPENDICES 47 Appendix 1: Photographs of Interviewees Appendix 2: Documents Provided by David Hill Appendix 3: Documents Provided by John Thogersen Roads and Traffic Authority Oral History Program Developments in Vehicle Regulation and Driver Testing and Licensing Final Report 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 The Client The client for the oral history is the Roads and Traffic Authority, NSW. 1.2 Liaison The Project Manager is Stuart Hill, Environmental Planning and Assessment Officer, Environment and Community Policy Branch. 1.3 Study Area Developments in vehicle regulation and driver licensing and testing in the Department of Road Transport and Tramways, the Department of Motor Transport (DMT) and Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA). 1.4 Authorship and Acknowledgments This report has been researched and written by Mary Ann Hamilton and Sue Andersen. We would like to thank the people we interviewed for their valuable contribution to this oral history: Phillip Leeds who joined the DMT in 1989 as a policy analyst and is currently Manager, Vehicle Industry Regulation with the RTA. Garry Chenhall who has been employed by the Department of Main Roads (DMR)/RTA for twenty-six years. His career has included positions such as Supervisor, Road Enforcement. He is currently a Project Officer, Safe-T-Cam Operations and Manager Safe-T-Cam and Rider Training Bookings. Gary Corben, who has been employed by the DMT in positions such as Project Officer, Photo Licences and is currently Unit Manager, Policy Implementation with the RTA. Tom Suter, who joined the DMT in 1956 as a Records Clerk. He has held positions in the DMT Accounts and Internal Audit sections and is currently a Policy Officer in Driver and Vehicle Licensing Policy. Allan Morey, who has been employed by the DMT/RTA for forty-seven years. His career has included positions in Registration Records and at the time of the interview was employed in Driver and Vehicle Procedures. Allan retired at the end of 1999. Bob Reece, who has been employed by the DMT/RTA since 1956 in positions such as Administrative Officer, Secretarial Branch and Manager, Legislation and Policy. He is currently Senior Legislation Officer, Driver and Vehicle Policy and Regulation. Terry Hagan, who was employed as Senior Legal Officer, Supervising Legal Officer and Deputy Chief Legal Officer by the DMR prior to the formation of the RTA. He now holds the position of Manager, Advisory and Legislative Services. 1 OHM Consultants November 1999 Roads and Traffic Authority Oral History Program Developments in Vehicle Regulation and Driver Testing and Licensing Final Report Paul Cullen, who has been employed by the DMT/RTA for twenty-seven years. His positions have included clerical positions in the Licence History section, Registry Officer, Project Officer with the Over the Counter Photo Licence Project. He is currently Acceptance Testing Supervisor, DRIVES Quality Control. Greg Booth, who was seconded to the RTA from the Crown Solicitors Office in 1995. He is currently General Manager, Driver and Vehicle Policy. Ron Chisholm, who has been employed by the DMT/RTA for thirty years mainly in driver testing and training. He is currently the Unit Manager, Driver Training. John Thogersen, who was employed by the DMT/RTA for thirty-five years. His career included such positions as Special Project Officer and Manager Special Plates Branch. John left the organisation in 1999. Kevin Salway, who has held positions such as Customer Service Officer and Project Officer with the Over the Counter Photo Licence Project. Hilton Wickham, who was employed by DMT/RTA for forty-three years in positions such as Manager, Driver Testing. He left the organisation in 1991. John Moore, who joined the DMT in 1968 as a Registry Clerk and subsequently held positions with the Relief section and as a Project Officer on the Photo licence team. John left the organisation in 1999. Phillip Youngman, who began his career with the DMT in 1965 as a Filing Clerk with the Correspondence Records section. He is currently Freedom of Information Officer with the RTA. Barry Booth, who joined the Department of Road Transport and Tramways in 1951. His career included supervisory positions with the DMT Stores and Printing Workshop. He is currently an Accounts Clerk with the Parramatta Office of the RTA.