Posted By Paul Stacey
We are reviewing our company driving policy and would like to gauge what is "common practice" amongst other companies.

Do you check the driving licences of:
a) Company Car Drivers
b) Own car drivers
c) Occasional Hire Car drivers

and approximately what size fleet, number of drivers would you have.

Thanks in advance

Posted By Haggis JM
As above, plus copy of MOT cert if applicable for own cars.

Posted By DHM
As above,

We get a third party co. to undertake checks on an annual basis. All drivers of co. vehicles sign a disclaimer that enables us to check every year.

We also undertake driver assessments annually.

Posted By P.R
As Jonathan above and we record detailson the register every 6 months.

Pete

Posted By Brian Hagyard
John W

A quick Google search will give you lots of companies who offer such a service. I came across a large haulage/transport company recently that uses such a system to keep track of its HGV drivers - they don't wait for them to tell them they have been banned. Also don't forget its quite easy to have two copies of a driving licence. Thought I had lost mine a few years ago so paid for a new one. Then when cleaning a cupboard out I found the old one. Being a responsible Health and Safety Person I destroyed the Old One - but if I had got points on my new licence could have easily shown my old one to a potential employer.

I also appreciate its really difficult to have detailed checks on private cars such as service histories etc, but if we are serious about safety shouldn't we not try - next thing you know people will be advertising for Fork Lift Truck Drivers - Own FLT essential, paying a mileage allowance and then saying the owner is responsible for their own servicing and thorough examination. I am afraid for people using their own cars for most employers (mine included!) its about covering their own backs on insurance.

Thursday rant over.

Brian

Posted By Robert.
What about employees partners who are allowed to drive Co cars?
Would the checks go that far and how would you assess them?

Posted By Andrew Robertson-Böber
Charley

Do you a system in place to test your drivers competency with regards to this? I have heard of a few folk that have but am curious if anyone has any firsthand experience on implementing this.

Kind Regards,

B

Andrew Böber
CMIOSH FRSH FRGS

Posted By CFT
Andrew

If the individual has a driving licence for the class of vehicle; have not had any restrictions placed upon them by the underwriters or 'others' and we hold no documentary evidence to suggest that we should intervene, I consider that we have taken every step SFARP to generally safeguard the individuals health & safety whilst driving at work; with the inclusion of a comprehensive policy which each individual driver played a part in the production of.

I suppose it is far simpler throughout our organisation due to the numbers involved, this is simplicity to for me to put into practice; times it by A LOT, to come close to the post above and I would need to think again; that would really only be a bigger department to administrate without getting into labouring the issue at hand for the sake of it; having so said, statistically a larger organisation should have concerns if indeed no 'actual' policy exists for the driving individuals; sadly, this is quite common.

Times are a changing, and the wheels on the bus go round and round, but oh so slowly. Where I find it highly frustrating is when I read of such and such being prosecuted for 2 (1) or 3 (1) of HSWA (for example) and the company state in response that 'they now have thorough systems in place to prevent such a recurrence', such a shame it takes a loss of life to make those changes; proactive and reactive are rarely quoted quite so accurately!

The throwaway that 'RTA's' don't come under H&S is the caveat that many companies show little interest; if only they knew!

CFT