Fleet software in the news
NEW MOTORING PENALTIES UNDERLINE IMPORTANCE OF EMPLOYEE DRIVING LICENCE CHECKS, SAYS JAAMA
A raft of tough new penalties for rogue drivers come into force on Monday (September 24) further underlining the importance of companies checking the validity of driving licences of all employees.
The latest tranche of measures under the 2006 Road Safety Act include the penalty for drivers failing to provide information about the identity of a driver increasing from three penalty points to six.
Issues surrounding driver identification have occurred notably when motorists have been caught on camera speeding. Incidents have been reported of the ‘offender’ claiming that someone else was driving in a bid to ensure they did not receive points on their licence and perhaps a driving ban.
Now, says Jason Francis, managing director of leading fleet software and risk management company Jaama, the tougher penalty concerning driver identification could result in employees being banned from driving after two offences. He said: “The introduction of tougher penalties for some motoring offences further underlines the Government’s commitment to improve road safety. The 2006 Road Safety Act has already increased the penalties for a number of motoring offences, including hand-held mobile phone use [a doubling of the fine to £60 and the introduction of three penalty points], so the chances of at-work drivers having points on their licence is continually increasing.
“Most employers assume that if a member of staff or a new employee has a driving licence the individual can legally drive. That is not always the case. Driving licences of prospective employees should be checked against the DVLA database at the recruitment stage and a reporting system to check the licences of existing employees is essential.”
Jaama’s online Key2 Vehicle Management is at the cutting edge of fleet software and includes a direct link to the Drive Vehicle and Licensing Agency database so enabling licence checks to be undertaken. Mr Francis said: “Having undertaken the DVLA check many companies use the reports received as the trigger for additional risk assessments and driver training, particularly in the case of employees who already have points on their licence.”
Other sentence changes that come into effect next week under the 2006 Road Safety Act include: • Penalty points received for failing to allow a sample to be subjected to a laboratory test remaining on a licence for 11 years instead of four.
• The maximum fine for careless or inconsiderate driving doubling to £5,000.
• The maximum fine for not ensuring that children in the rear seat of vehicles are wearing seat belts increasing from £200 to £500.
• A person using a vehicle in a dangerous condition for the second time in four years being disqualified from driving for not less than six months.
• The maximum penalty for failing to stop a vehicle operated mechanically, if requested to by a police officer increasing from £1,000 to £5,000.
Mr Francis added: “Businesses cannot afford not to undertake licence checks themselves or through a third party. If an employee is forced to make a choice between keeping their job and maintaining their lifestyle or revealing that they have a driving ban, loyalty to the employer could be tested to the limit. Can any company afford such risks?”
PR Contact details:
Ashley Martin
Ashley Martin Communications
Tel: 01733 390691, 07801 434338
Email: ashley.martin32@btopenworld.com
-Ends-
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
Back to fleet software press cuttings
