A recent study found that half of all employees who use their private vehicle for business-related journeys (known as the grey fleet) don’t recall having their driving licence checked by their employer.
While this might not be relevant for some fleet owners, it is relevant for many and forms a key part of the fleet network in a wider sense in the UK.
Driving licence checks are a crucial part of the obligations for any fleet, mitigating any potential risks for you and your drivers.
But many employers are unaware of the specifics of the requirements of driving licence checks…
Why Are Fleet Driving Licence Checks So Important?
While digital driving licences are set to launch later this year, the reality is that physical driving licences will be around for many years to come before they become optional or cease to exist.
And for fleets, routine licence checking is a crucial part of safety checks, which is why at Driving Monitor, our Licence Monitor is so important…
Plus, all of your employee’s licence data is secure as we’re a member of the Association for Driving Licence Verification.
There are plenty of potential pitfalls for drivers and fleets when it comes to driving licences, whether that’s penalty points or expired licences.
In fact, more than 2 million drivers in the UK could be risking £1,000 fines by driving with an incorrect or expired driving licence.
Recent research found that 6% openly admit they’ve driven with an expired licence, with a third saying they didn’t renew their last licence until more than one month after it had expired.
That’s without even considering the impact that vision requirements have on fleets – because those with eye conditions that might impact their driving are required to inform the DVLA.
But regular testing is required (which the DVLA must be informed of) to ensure that conditions don’t deteriorate and failing to do so can lead to a £1,000 a fine.
How Do Fleets Stay Safe With Licence Checks?
Running a fleet comes with more than its fair share of challenges.
Thankfully, clearer guidance on driver’s vision requirements mean it’s easier now than ever before to know what internal policies should look like.
Many of the conditions on the official DVLA list won’t need reporting but the DVLA will need updates on them, particularly if the effects become more severe (those include strokes, heart conditions and operations on body parts such as your legs).
But with recent studies showing issues around drivers renewing licences and gaps in the so-called ‘grey fleet’ and their compliance with the rules, protecting you and your fleet has never been more important.
At Driving Monitor, we have a module for exactly this – ensuring that your drivers have had their eyes regularly tested for driving, as well as being grey fleet compliant…
