Licence Bureau has released a Christmas driver compliance checklist for companies preparing for a seasonal sales spike.

Managing director Malcolm Maycock (pictured) believes that sticking to this approach will help ensure their new drivers will remain compliant during this busy period.

• Always check a driver’s licence and take special care if the driver is a non-UK licence holder to ensure they are qualified to drive the vehicle in question.
• Reinforce to the driver the number of hours they are entitled to work while driving a specific vehicle. And if the vehicle does not have a tachograph reinforce to them the ratio of driving to rest they are advised to take each day.
• Make sure a driver is familiar with UK roads – test their knowledge of the Highway Code and if necessary get them to take you for a drive round the block to be sure you ‘know your driver’ before they undertake work on your behalf.
• Be very clear about your zero-tolerance drink drive and drug drive policy.
• Reinforce that vehicles will be spot checked by the company on a regular basis and that daily checks must take place on all key safety items such as tyres, brakes and lights, and that servicing and MOTs should always be in place while the vehicle is in use.

“Just because companies are only employing new drivers for an 8-10-week period over Christmas doesn’t mean they should be tempted to drop their recruitment standards," said Maycock. "This should be used as a check list as it covers off all eventualities when employing a new driver, whether they are driving your vehicle or their own. 

“Companies should have in the back of their mind the problems when things go wrong, such as the recent crash on the M1 where the driver allegedly had a revoked licence but was still driving a company vehicle. Stick to the plan and ensure that everybody has both a safe and Merry Christmas.”