The new measures, introduced under the Road Safety Act, include the raising of penalty points – from three to six – for those failing to provide information about the identity of a driver caught speeding.
This follows numerous incidents where motorists have claimed others were driving in order to avoid points on their licences.
There are fears that this and other new measures (see below) could result in employees being banned from driving after two offences.
Jason Francis, managing director of software and fleet management firm Jaama, said: “The chances of at-work drivers having points on their licence is continually increasing.
“Driving licences of prospective employees should be checked against the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) database at the recruitment stage and a reporting system to check the licences of existing employees is essential.”
Some fleet management software includes a direct link to the DVLA database so licences can be checked automatically.
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 they have a driving ban, loyalty to the employer could be tested to the limit. Can any company afford such risks?”
New offences
Source: Road Safety Act
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