THE Association of Car Fleet Operators is urging fleet managers to keep accurate records of their employees' driving licences following an AA report which revealed there could be 800,000 unlicensed drivers in the UK. The survey, jointly funded by the Association of British Insurers, found that as many as one in 40 drivers do not have a licence.

ACFO chairman Tony Leigh said: 'It is not unusual in a large fleet to find a driver without a licence. We always urge our members to check licences on joining the company and once a year at appraisal or salary review time. There should also be a provision whereby drivers report any endorsements.'

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) backed ACFO's call, with Bob Smalley, general manager driver services, saying: 'Licences should be checked at least once a year and on no account should photocopies be accepted. Some drivers take the risk because they believe they will not get caught but it will be their employers who face the courts as well if something goes wrong - it is in a company's own interest to check licences regularly.'