Company drivers fail to have correct licence

FIVE IN EVERY 1000 company car, van and truck drivers in the UK does not have the correct licence to be at the wheel. With more than 5 million vehicles on the UK’s roads owned by companies, this means 5000 drivers either have the wrong licence or simply don’t have any licence at all.

Research by the Licence Bureau has revealed the top five reasons for drivers failing to have the right licence for the vehicle they are driving. The most common reason is an expired provisional licence, while second place goes to drivers with a provisional licence but who have been disqualified from driving.

Drivers with a revoked licence are the third most common in this research, while an expired full licence is fourth and disqualified full licence holders come in fifth spot.

The Licence Bureau is urging all companies, regardless of size, to carry out regular licence checks for all of their drivers. If a driver does not have the correct licence type, the company could be breaking the law and compromising their Duty of Care to their employees. It could also leave them uninsured in the event of a collision.

Malcolm Maycock, Managing Director of Licence Bureau, said: ‘Our aim is to highlight the growing problem to companies of failing to audit employees’ current driving and vehicle documents. Businesses need to be aware of this threat to their livelihoods.’

By Press Association reporters