Posted: Friday 10 April 2015

Company owners and transport managers send drivers out with a reasonable expectation that those individuals have a fundamental understanding of safety issues. However, when it comes to something as common as the windscreen, such assumptions may not be warranted. According to a recently released study from Autoglass, there is a lot of driver ignorance where windscreens are concerned.

Posted: Tuesday 24 March 2015

In a rather unusual case from Devon, an ambulance driver who had been on the job for four years was sacked by his employer after they had discovered his Irish driving licence was not legitimate. Driver Eoin Crowley had paid to have his standard driving licence illegally upgraded in order to apply for the ambulance position. What makes the case so strange is that Crowley's years with South Western Ambulance Service produced an impeccable record.

Posted: Tuesday 17 March 2015

Most of us are probably pragmatic enough to realise that there are people willing to drive without holding a valid licence. The question is one of how serious the problem is. Unfortunately, it may be more serious than many of us know – if one man from South London is any indication. Not only does this man not possess a driving licence, but he has also racked up enough violations over the years to incur 40 licence points.

Posted: Tuesday 10 March 2015

By the time the paper driving licences are phased out in June (2015), the Government should have its new Share Driving Licence scheme up and running. The scheme involves a brand-new database that employers will be able to utilise in order to check the driving licences of their workers. According to Fleet News UK, it will also include a driver component enabling the licence holder to control who has access to information.

Posted: Tuesday 03 March 2015

New rules for drug driving are now in effect across England and Wales thanks to legislation that came into force from March 2 (2015). The new rules are designed to prevent people from driving after taking illicit drugs or certain prescription medications that impair ability. The teeth of the rules are found in its enforcement procedures, which could result in the loss of a licence for some drivers.

Posted: Wednesday 25 February 2015

Fleet managers already know how difficult it can be to manage a large number of vehicles along with the drivers who operate them. Even companies with just one or two vehicles encounter plenty of headaches just trying to make sure everything remains legal. However, things could get a lot worse if new legislation being considered by the European Union eventually becomes law. It is yet another reason to have a licence-checking strategy in place.

Posted: Tuesday 10 February 2015

We have been talking a lot about the change in driving licences as the UK transitions from the old paper document to digital records. Even with implementation of the changes being delayed by six months, even bigger changes are coming that could spell the end of the driving licence as we know it. The changes are wrapped up in new technology that has driverless cars now on the horizon.

Posted: Tuesday 27 January 2015

Does the system of driving licence penalty points work to keep bad drivers off the road? It depends on who you ask. It also depends on decisions made by the courts. One good example is a recent case in Paisley, a town in Scotland's central lowlands.

Posted: Wednesday 21 January 2015

We frequently talk about the necessity of checking driving licences as a means of protecting both your company and your drivers. A recent day in the Oxfordshire court system illustrates why. According to The Herald (Abingdon), six of the 20 individuals appearing in court were there for driving related offences. That is 30% for those keeping score.

Posted: Tuesday 13 January 2015

With the Christmas festivities now in the rear mirror, we are all preparing to dig in and make it through the rest of the dreary winter season. Ahead of us are cold winter nights, cloudy winter days, and plenty of precipitation that could make things treacherous. The Highways Agency is doing its part to make sure it is as prepared as it can be for the onset of winter weather. Fleet managers should be doing their part as well, including working with drivers and conducting licence checks.