COMPANIES should consider introducing a policy that states drivers must inform them if they amass six or more penalty points on their driving licences, a new study suggests.

This could then lead to closer monitoring of individual driving behaviour, with the possibility of driver training being offered, but policies should also be formulated with HR departments informing drivers of their position with the company should they have their licence taken away.

The call comes as the results of a survey of more than 300 finance and HR directors show that the vast majority (82%) of businesses have no such policy in place. This is despite the fact that the increase in the number of speed cameras on Britain’s roads could easily result in drivers racking up points or ultimately being banned.

Last month, companies were warned that more than a million British motorists are just one offence away from being banned from driving.

Figures produced by Direct Line suggest that one in 10 with nine points on their licence would lose their jobs if it was taken away.

The latest findings on the lack of policies covering what will happen to drivers who are banned, or are close to a ban, come from a report by the Centre for Automotive Management (CAIM) at Nottingham Trent University.

The author, Professor Peter Cooke, said: ‘If drivers have six points on their licence it should be company policy that they must tell the fleet manager. The fleet manager should then see how quickly they are mounting those points up and continually monitor their driving behaviour, with the view of offering driver training if needed.’

The study also discovered that demand for satellite navigation units in company cars was overwhelmingly being driven by employees, adding that although having a speed camera warning system is not the main reason for their growing popularity, 82% of finance directors consider their use is ‘acceptable’ by employees.

Road safety campaigners have long argued that such systems encourage drivers to speed because they know they are not in range of a camera.

The study claims only 14% of companies have a written policy on the use of navigation systems used in company cars.