More risk of points for company drivers

Business motorists could be hit hard by a raft of new offences which have come into force.

The new measures, introduced under the Road Safety Act, include an increase from three to six penalty points for people who fail 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 could result in employees being banned from driving after just two offences.

The managing director of a major software and fleet management firm is reported as saying that the chances of at-work drivers having points on their licence is continually increasing.

He went on to say that driving licences of prospective employees should be checked against the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency’s (DVLA) database at the recruitment stage and that a reporting system to check the licences of existing employees is essential.

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, he added.

Other changes to the law include increased fines for careless or inconsiderate driving and a minimum six-month ban for anyone using a vehicle in a dangerous condition for the second time in four years.