- HR directors are being encouraged to regularly check their employees’ driving licences or risk major financial repercussions.
- More than one in four road accidents potentially involve drivers travelling to work.
- The DVLA estimates that 22 percent of people are driving with out-of-date documents.
A year after paper licences were abolished, with online checking of driving licences brought in as a quick and easy alternative, managed travel company First Travel Solutions believes that many businesses are not only not checking their employees’ licences, but are also unaware of their own obligations.
According to the Department for Transport, more than one in four road accidents potentially involve drivers travelling to work, whilst the DVLA estimates that 22 percent of people are driving with out-of-date documents, and one million are just three points from being disqualified. According to First Travel Solutions this means that the risk to businesses could run into the millions of pounds, if disqualified drivers have accidents whilst driving for work.
Colin O’Keefe, head of business development at First Travel Solutions, said: “When we speak to many organisations, there is a lack of understanding that they need to be checking their employees’ licences if they drive for work. “In the past HR departments would take a photocopy of their employees’ licences as an initial quality check, but after that there weren’t always processes in place to update the information. Now that they can’t do that, what systems do they have in place?
“In many mid-sized businesses where there is no requirement for a fleet or transport manager, HR departments are given the responsibility for these checks – they should not be seen as a mere box-ticking exercise and we would encourage them to double check their processes.” The paper part of the driving licence, which traditionally contained information including points, endorsements and disqualifications, was abolished in June 2015. One year on, First Travel Solutions believes a combination of lack of awareness and ownership and a perception that to check licences requires significant administration is leaving employers exposed through not having a clear overview of their employees’ licences.
“Checking licences does require employee consent, which could require significant administration,” said O’Keefe. “However, there are systems available which can allow one-click consent, delivered online. Ultimately, it is a legal requirement and employers need to make sure they are checking their employees’ licences regularly. Otherwise they leave themselves open to significant liability should a disqualified driver be in an accident whilst driving on business.”
