Fleet software in the news
22nd May 2009
DEMAND FOR JAAMA LICENCE CHECKS CONTINUES TO RISE AS DVLA ABANDONS ITS OWN ONLINE SERVICE
Demand for Jaama’s fast-track driver licence checking service with the DVLA has reached unprecedented levels.
It comes on the back of the fleet software and risk management specialist making continued investment in its range of services including the recent introduction of an updated licence checking service for users of its Key2 Vehicle Management software.
In addition, this year’s introduction of the Health and Safety (Offences) Act and the implementation last year of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act has further raised the importance of public and private sector fleets having a complete risk management audit trail of drivers as well as vehicles.
Increasing demand for licence checking from Jaama’s Key2 customers comes as it has been revealed that the DVLA has abandoned its own online system for checking driving licence information, which was already being trialled with some businesses across the UK, and was due for delivery in 2010.
With 43 million drivers using UK roads and 400,000 without a valid driving licence, there are concerns that many employers could be unaware of the risks posed by at-work drivers because of their failure to declare licence validity or how many points they have. As a result, DVLA checks are viewed as an occupational road risk management essential by safety experts.
Jaama says that licence checking should be the most obvious basic risk step for all businesses as they get to grips with the ever-tougher legislation targeted at improving driver safety and removing dangerous drivers from the UK’s roads with an increasing range of driving offences now incurring points.
The most significant benefit of Jaama’s DVLA system, known as ‘e-DECS’, is that company bosses and fleet decisions-makers can obtain licence check results for individuals or batches of licences on the same day on which they are lodged.
The DVLA’s decision not to proceed with direct driving licence checks with fleets does not impact on licence checking procedures carried out by Jaama, which has already helped clients uncover a range of discrepancies including:
- A handful of drivers who had already been banned but had provided invalid licences
- Three HGV drivers who did not have valid licences.
- An employee receiving three points on their licence after breaching mobile phone use laws. The penalty resulted in the employee breaking through the employer’s accumulated points allowed tolerance level under their insurance policy.
- A driver who did not have the correct licence category to drive the HGV he was driving.
Integration between the DVLA system and Key2 means a more secure electronic data transfer and ensures employers build-up a comprehensive picture of employees’ driving record once staff have given their consent to the checks with the signing of a three-year data protection mandate.
Additionally with Jaama’s new improved Key2, automatic updates can be obtained notifying companies of any licence exceptions, licence points incurred and irregularities ensuring duty of care compliance. Also, management reports can be obtained on:
- Groups of staff with different risk levels e.g. 1-3 points, 4 -7 points etc. at pre-determined time intervals
- Current endorsements
- Driver vehicle categories
- Licence commencement dates
- Licence expiration dates - particularly important with modern photo licences, which have a 10-year life
- Offence dates and codes
Jaama managing director Jason Francis said: “Driver licence checking is the Achilles heel for many fleets. All employees who drive on business should have their licences validated and any endorsements put on file whether they drive company-provided vehicles or their own.
“As a result of the IT improvements not only will the results of initial checks be obtained much quicker, but automatic updates mean that employers will be in possession of the latest facts relating to the validity of all employees’ driving licences.”
EDITOR’S NOTES
Jaama is a fleet software and occupational road safety specialist.
As a certified Microsoft® development partner, Jaama uses the latest technology to provide customers with greater integration, control and automation. It brings innovative vehicle management software to fleet operators, contract hire and leasing companies.
And Jaama is the first to combine fleet management software and risk management services to help customers meet their driver health and safety responsibilities under occupational road safety regulations.
High resolution photographs to accompany all Jaama press releases can be downloaded at http://www.jaama.co.uk/temp/Photos for PR.zip
Please direct media enquiries to Ashley Martin at Ashley Martin Communications on 01733 390691, 07801 434338 or at ashley.martin32@btopenworld.com
About Jaama
Jaama is a fleet software and occupational road safety specialist. As a certified Microsoft® development partner, Jaama uses the latest technology to provide customers with greater integration, control and automation. It brings innovative vehicle management software to fleet operators, contract hire and leasing companies. And Jaama is the first to combine fleet management software and risk management services to help customers meet their driver health and safety responsibilities under occupational road safety regulations.
http://www.jaama.co.uk
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