Ascension : ASCENSION ISLAND DRIVING LICENCE
Submitted by The Islander (Police Ascension) 18.09.2008 (Article Archived on 02.10.2008)

General information concerning the use of motor vehicles on Ascension Island

                                  

ASCENSION ISLAND DRIVING LICENCE

In order to drive a motor vehicle on Ascension Island, a person must be in possession of a valid Ascension Island driving licence. An Ascension driving licence can be obtained from the Police Office in Georgetown at a fee of £6.00. This driving licence is valid for one year, from the date of issue, and, it should be signed by the holder with his usual signature.

When applying for such licence, the applicant will be required to read through the Extracts of the High Way Code, in order to familiarise them selves with the do’s and don’ts of driving on Ascension. The applicant will then be asked to complete and sign a Driving Licence Application Form. It is an offence for a person who, for the purpose of obtaining a licence, knowingly makes any false statement.

The police records are computerised and when applying for a driving licence for the first time, an applicant will also be required to supply a few personal details in order to maintain the Data.

The normal age for driving a motor vehicle on Ascension is 18 years, unless a person wishes to drive a private motor car or a motorcycle up to and including 125cc, and a Quadricycle in which case the age is 17 years.

If you are a visitor to the island and in possession of a  current valid drivers licence or International Drivers permit, you are advise to produce your driving licence to the clerk at the Traffic Section or to a Police Officer, who will make a record of the class/s of licence you holds.  In accordance with the Road Traffic Ordinance you can drive on Ascension for a period of three months in the preceding year. Provided that this exemption applies only to the class of vehicle specified in the licence and subject to any restrictions endorsed thereon.  If you remain on the island for a longer period then you must apply for an Ascension Island driving licence in the normal procedure.

You must then ensure that the vehicle you intend, to drive is covered by a policy of Insurance. There are Insurance Policies which allow for any driver over the age of 25 years to drive a vehicle with the consent of the owner. However, there are other Insurance Polices which only covers named drivers. In almost all cases any person under the age of 25 years must be a named driver on a Policy of Insurance.

It is an offence to use a motor vehicle on a road without being covered by a policy of Insurance.

REMEMBER IT IS BEST TO SPEND A FEW MINIUTES CHECKING TO SEE IF YOUR ARE COVERED BY INSURANCE, THAN TO BE DISQUALFIED FROM DRIVING IF CONVICTED IN COURT.

REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHICLES

All motor vehicles on the island with the exception of those vehicles owned by the British and American military,  must be registered when they are brought to the island for the first time.  This is done at the Police Office where the applicant will be allocated a number for their vehicle or trailer.

In order to do this a form titled ‘APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION OF MOTOR VEHCILE OR TRAILER’ must be completed. The particulars required to complete the form are as follows:- the name of the applicant; colour; make and description of vehicle; year of manufacture; chassis number; horsepower; tare weight; overall width; overall length; wheel base and seating capacity. The above form can be completed before the vehicle arrives at Ascension, provided all the information required above is available. The fee for registering a motor vehicle is £6.00.

Having completed the above form, a Registration Number will then be allocated to that vehicle. Some people are of the opinion that once they have being given a number, it is theirs even if the vehicle has not been used on a road for a number of years. This is not the case. The number allocated is to register the vehicle for use on a road, if a vehicle is not used for a number of years, then the Motor Licensing Officer can recall that number.

Having being issued with a number for your vehicle, the next step is to get your number plates. The number plates can either be the type which complies with the requirements laid down by the British Standard Specification for reflex Reflecting Number Plates under the B.S.UA 145a, in which case they must have a white background with black letters and figures and must be exhibited to the front of your vehicle.  The rear number plate must have a yellow background with black letters and figures. However if the number plates are locally made, they should have a black background with white, silver or light grey letters and figures.  The size of the letters and figures should be three and a half inches high, with every part of the letter and figures 5/8 of an inch broad; the total width of the space taken by every letter of figure except the figure 1 should be two and half inches high, with a half inch space between each letter of figure.

In the case of a motor cycle, the dimensions given above may be halved and only one registration number plate is required, which must be fitted to the rear of the motor cycle.

 LICENSING A MOTOR VEHICLE

After registering your motor vehicle and fitting the Registration number plate, the next step is to have the vehicle examined by a Motor Vehicle Inspector.

Before a motor vehicle can be used on a road it must have a valid vehicle licence. (Road Licence).  To arrange this, the vehicle must first be examined and pass its ‘roadworthiness test.

There are nine vehicle Inspectors on the Island who are as follows:- Alroy Fuller and Brian Essex of Interserve Defence Ltd, Andrew Piek, James Reid of Serco, Joseph Oliver, Mark Thomas, Donavon Thomas and, David Moyce of AIG and Jason Augustus of CSR.

An appointment should be made with either of the named Vehicle Inspectors for the MOT.

The Inspection fee for a motor cycle is £8.00 and in the case of any other motor vehicle £16.50.

The fees for licencing will vary, depending on the class of licence required. This licence is valid for one year from the date of licensing the vehicle.

If the vehicle is not licensed at the time when it is being prepared for MOT, then a permit to allow the vehicle to be used on the road for the purpose of having it inspected must be obtained from the Police Office. The vehicle must also be covered by Insurance.

When your vehicle passes the MOT examination, the vehicle Inspector will issue a Road Worthiness certificate, (MOT). This certificate, together with your valid Insurance Policy, should be taken to the Police Office, where a vehicle licence will be issued. A licence will not be granted unless proof of Insurance is shown at the time of licensing the vehicle. A motor vehicle licence can be renewed before the actual expiry date, provided that the vehicle has been examined and passed the MOT test within the preceding three months.

CHANGE OF OWNERSHIP

If you purchased a motor vehicle from another owner, then you as the new owner of that vehicle shall notify the motor licensing officer at the Police Office. This must be done within seven days of the change of ownership, of the vehicle, because if this is not done within the specified time, then you would have committed an offence. The new owner of the vehicle must furnish proof that he has taken possession of the vehicle lawfully. You will be required to complete a ‘Notification of change of ownership of motor vehicle or trailer’ form. A fee of £5.00 will be charged in respect of the change of ownership of motor vehicle.

If a vehicle is being remove from the Island or is no longer used on the road it would be very much appreciated, if the owner could please inform the licencing Officer.

LEARNING HOW TO DRIVE A MOTOR VEHICLE

Before learning to drive you must obtain a Provisional driving licence from the Police Office. This licence is valid for a period of three months and the fee is £6.00. You must be under the supervision  of a person who is present in the vehicle with you and who holds and has for not less than two years a valid driving licence, not being a provisional driving licence, authorising him to drive a vehicle of the same class as the vehicle being driven by the holder of the provisional licence. To indicate that your are a learner driver, you must clearly display in a conspicuous position on the front and on the back of the vehicle a distinguishing mark in the form of a letter L  in red on a white background, the letter L shall be not less than four inches high. Once your instructor is confident that you are competent to drive, the next step would be for you to arrange with the Driver Examiner at the Police Office a driving test.

The Driver Examiner will test your ability to drive that vehicle over a given route as to your competence. You will be tested on your knowledge of the High Way Code.  The highway code can be obtain from the Police Office.

I trust that the above information will be of some help to you in relation to the use of motor vehicles on Ascension.

If any further information is required, then please do not hesitate to contact the Police on the general enquires telephone number 6412

THE ST HELENA POLICE ASCENSION DETACHMENT WISH YOU AN ENJOYABLE STAY ON THE ISLAND, ALSO SAFE AND HAPPY DRIVING.