Withdrawn licence: how do I get around?
Withdrawn licence: how do I get around?
A friend was purring his new car along a main road... Flash. The radar recorded his performance correctly and a withdrawal of licence is likely to follow. He dreads becoming a pedestrian. Is he doomed to walk, or does he have other options for getting his children to school and work?
L.
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Your friend won't be forced to travel exclusively on foot, but he'll probably have to wait before he can touch a steering wheel again. His room for manoeuvre is likely to be severely restricted.
The first thing to check is the extent of the licence withdrawal, as the principle enshrined in the Ordinance governing admission to road traffic (OAC) is that withdrawal of a driving licence for a category (A, B, C, etc.) or sub-category (A1, B1, D1, etc.) entails withdrawal of the driving licence for all categories, all sub-categories and special category F (motor vehicles limited to 45 km/h), subject to special circumstances. The authorities may even extend the licence withdrawal to other special categories G (mopeds) and M (agricultural and forestry motor vehicles)!
Specifically, cars limited to 45 km/h (category F) can no longer be driven if a licence is withdrawn, as was previously the case. In principle, it will still be possible to drive vehicles in special categories G and M, as well as vehicles for which no licence is required (e.g. a light moped, an electric scooter or a motorised wheelchair with a maximum speed not exceeding 20 km/h). It should be noted that e-bikes, which are now very much in vogue, fall into the category of mopeds; the withdrawal of a car driving licence therefore normally allows you to continue to ride a simple bicycle or an e-bike limited to 25 km/h, or even an e-bike of up to 45 km/h if the category G licence has not also been withdrawn as part of the penalty imposed.
Caution is still called for, however, as the administrative authority can also impose a driving ban on vehicles that do not require a licence if the driver has seriously or repeatedly endangered traffic or caused repeated discomfort to other road users.
The professional need to drive a motor vehicle (for drivers and other delivery personnel) is one of the criteria taken into account by the administrative authority when considering the penalty, but only for the duration of the withdrawal and not to determine the withdrawal as such. So your friend will probably have very muscular legs when the sun comes back out, unless of course he can count on you to drive him or uses taxis...
MAKE AN APPOINTMENTPascal Rytz
