Do you check your drivers' licences?

There are now more ways for drivers to accummulate points on their licences than ever before which can lead to staff being unable to carry out their jobs. HR Departments need to be aware of their Duty of Care responsibilities particularly as there is every chance that some drivers are continuing to drive despite being banned. 

Companies need to be on top of the situation and be aware of how many points drivers have accummulated and who is at risk of losing their licences in the near future. A system of regular checks should be in place to ensure that drivers who have been banned are not still using their company vehicles. Failure to do so could lead to the company being prosecuted. 

There are several licence checking agencies in the market who will do this for you.   Companies such as The Licence Bureau, says many companies still pay little attention to checking the validity of the driving licences of their employees. " With the Government?s safety crusade aimed at ensuring irresponsible motorists are banned from driving, a range of tough new measures mean that more employees could lose their licence after only two offences," warns The Licence Bureau's Malcolm Maycock.

For example, recent new punishments introduced under the 2006 Road Safety Act include the penalty for failing to provide information about the identity of a driver increasing from three penalty points on a licence to six. The company has noticed that issues surrounding driver identification have occurred notably when motorists have been caught speeding on camera. Incidents have been reported of the offender claiming that someone else was driving in a bid to ensure they did not receive points on their licence and perhaps a driving ban.

Also drivers now face being banned from driving for only two speeding offences under a Government plan to double the fixed penalty for exceeding the limit by a wide margin. Furthermore an imminent Department for Transport consultation document will propose that drivers caught significantly above a speed limit? will be penalised with six points and a £100 fine instead of the present three points and a £60 fine. Again, the punishment could result in a driving ban after two speeding offences and not the current four.

The checking process needs to be formalised and should include HR seeing original documents and then photocopying and filing all company car driving employee licences and those of spouses entitled to drive their cars. It should also be extended to anyone running a vehicle on a car allowance.

Special attention should also be paid to anyone with nine or more points as they are border-line. Bi-monthly checks will not be popular with staff previously enjoying life in the fast lane but they will send out the right message to everyone and provide you with some much needed comfort.

More Information?

If you require more information please call us on 01384 442233 or complete the form at Contact Us.