Posted: Friday, 09 March 2018
If a proposed government plan to change how driving licences are issued comes to fruition, real-time licence checks will be more important than ever for companies with drivers on the payroll. The proposed plans call for restrictions that could keep younger drivers off the roads and limit the vehicles they drive.
Numerous news outlets report that the government is considering a graduated driving licence plan aimed at preventing crash fatalities among younger drivers. The proposed plan affects drivers between the ages of 17 and 24, for up to two years after they get their driving licences.
Driving at Night – Younger drivers would be prohibited from driving at night unsupervised, similar to laws already in place in Australia and New Zealand.
Restricted Engine Sizes – Affected drivers would be limited to cars with smaller engines. This proposal is aimed at cracking down on 'boy racers'.
Restricted Engine Sizes – Affected drivers would be limited to cars with smaller engines. This proposal is aimed at cracking down on 'boy racers'.
Probationary Period – Younger drivers would be subject to a two-year probationary period, during which time they would have to prove their worthiness to get a full licence.
Second Test – Should the probationary period proposal be enacted, younger drivers would be required to take a second test at the completion of probation to get a full licence.
The government says that drivers between 17 and 24 are involved in a quarter of all crashes resulting in serious injuries and deaths. They say that the graduated driving licence proposal is intended only to reduce those numbers. Government representatives insist that they are not trying to punish younger drivers.
Hopefully you understand how a graduated driving licence would affect your business. If you have drivers younger than 24 on the payroll now, we would expect them to be unaffected. They already have their licences. But moving forward, restrictions would likely prevent you from aggressively recruiting new drivers who are not at least 25 years old.
Real-time licence checks would help you identify younger drivers should they attempt to pass themselves off as being older. The last thing you want to do is employ a driver who is still on his or her probationary period.
Changes may be coming to the UK driving licence. Make sure your company is using real-time licence checks before any such changes go into effect.
Source: Mirror