Driving licence checking service for employers

The Association of Car Fleet Operators (ACFO) said it welcomed news that a pilot scheme was due to start soon, but that "swift action" was now needed to get the full system up and running.

ACFO said driver licence checks formed a "key part" of occupational road risk management. However, it claimed the DVLA currently provided "no easy route" for employers to undertake such checks - particularly at the recruitment stage, before any job offer is made.

Stewart Whyte, ACFO director, said: "There is a clear demand from employers for driver licence checks and there is clear guidance from government and the HSE for employers to undertake licence checks for existing and potential employees."

When established, the 'Driver Licence Check' service will enable registered organisations to view information from a driver's record online. The information, which will be available for a fee, will be enough to check if the employee or potential employee is properly licensed.

Stewart Whyte added: "From an occupational road risk management perspective this is essential if fleets are to comply with best practice advice and be able to provide a comprehensive audit of drivers, vehicles and journeys in the event of an employee being involved in a serious road crash.

"We remain hopeful that the pilot will complete successfully in the near future. Nevertheless, it remains disappointing that the initiative is not up and running already. That is particularly so when both the Government and the HSE have, quite rightly, urged all businesses to review their at-work driver safety and put it on a best practice footing."

Competent drivers?

Norwich Union's motor risk manager Bill Pownall pointed out that fleets can already carry out such checks by fax - provided a "mandate" is completed by the driver and a fee is paid. Accounts can be set up with the DVLA for multiple enquiries.

Various third party organisations, including the RAC - authorised by the DVLA to access its data - also provide licence checking services. Again these are subject to a mandate from the driver in order to meet data protection requirements.

"These services are useful and have exposed serious shortcomings and discrepancies in people's licences. Employers have every right to have a licence validated.

"Of course, it's essential that employers ask to see their drivers' licences in the first place - before employment is offered, and at regular intervals for existing staff."

Bill added that licence checking and validation were "not the whole story" when it came to assessing drivers at the recruitment stage.

"Checking that someone is actually competent to drive is just as essential," he said. "A simple online assessment might help, or just accompanying them out on the road - provided they're assessed by someone who is competent themselves, of course!"

For information on driver training and assessment, risk management and licence checking visit Norwich Union's 'Roadsense' website here.