Vehicle Weight Factors in Licensing

Vehicle ‘Weight Factors’ in Licensing . . .

The main reason for additional and exclusive licence categories for larger vehicles, is because of their extra weight.

[There also appears to be some explanation needed, to correct certain impractical concepts that have been ‘mooted’ by incompetent people during 2005-2008 , concerning engine ‘cc. or pwr-ratings’ for car Licences!]

The weight factor embraces 90% of the rationale taken into account when “heavy vehicle licence categories” were promulgated, many years ago.  There are (some) lesser dynamics, associated with the larger size, of trucks etc.
The licence categories are necessary only because of the fact that a heavy vehicle, when in motion,  requires much further to stop than more light weight vehicles.

More importantly perhaps, the heavy vehicle can cause a lot more damage if it becomes ‘out of control’ and impacts with obstacles - before coming to a halt.
It is the combination of these two closely related weight factors that increases the potential for harm - should a heavy vehicle be ‘out of control’.

A similar scientific principle [albeit with the associated reduction of scale] can apply to the methods of graduated licence restriction that we have for motorcycle Licences - but PTW ratios, and the association of this to load carrying dynamics, as well as the absence of protection for the rider, are the main criterion.
Therefore, to proclaim that the ability, for ordinary motor cars, to reach high speeds should be used as a licensing criterion, when establishing potential for the DRIVERS to have accidents, is an absurd concept.
Refer also: Engine power restrictions - Cars versus motorcycles

I.e. When the licence categories were first formulated - for both cars and trucks - absolutely no consideration whatever was able to be given for their respective ability to reach illegal speeds. . . . Nothing has changed since.

In other words, the former licensing authorities were required to assume that the vehicles would never be driven at illegal and / dangerous speeds.
To have even hinted at any suggestion concerning anything to the contrary, would be tantamount to inviting drivers to break the law. Read also: "Overt Challenge to Established Authority..."

[NB. In respect of some (mid 2000) discussions concerning this topic, it is a surprise that NZ Transport Agency has been silent over such a straightforward legal question, particularly considering the numbers of casualties involved.  For example, it is assumed (hypothetically) that if someone appeared on national TV and commented that ‘certain people should be given a licence to recklessly operate particular types of apparatus’ (of whatever kind...) - that have a potential to, or demonstrate a ‘history of’ causing tragedies if operated outside of their legal requirements (or normal boundaries)... - that in such a case the authorities or Police would immediately reprimand the individual concerned.]