Driving Licence Checking Facility

Department for Transport research has concluded that over 553,000 hours per month are spent on the road by unlicensed drivers. Industry statistics show that nearly one in three of all business mileage drivers have penalty points on their licence.
Every day, the DVLA revoke driver’s licences with or without the driver’s knowledge. The photo card driving licence which was introduced in 1998 has a ten year validity period. Those issued in 1998 started to expire in 2008. In our experience, over 80% of drivers holding these licences are unaware they expire and need renewing.

The law concerning transport continues to evolve and in particular the changes relating to the ‘Corporate Manslaughter Act 2008’, and ‘Section 87 (2) Road Traffic Act 1988’ which
states, “It is an offence for a person to cause or permit another person to drive on a road, a motor vehicle of any class if that person is not the holder of a licence authorising him/her to drive a motor vehicle or of that class”.

This means the employer is liable for ensuring all reasonable and practicable steps to guarantee this has to be implemented. Penalties can be severe and in the most serious cases, custodial sentences may be imposed.