ODG02030 - Guidance for official drivers: Line manager’s responsibilities

It is line manager’s responsibility that official driver’s DVLA licences must be checked at six monthly intervals and that records of such checks are maintained. Managers may delegate this responsibility at their discretion. Checks should include that the minimum age requirements for driving vehicles appropriate to their staff are adhered to.

A Driver Road Risk Declaration must be completed before you give your member of staff authority to drive. The Driver Road Risk Declaration is a general guide for you to help you determine if your staff member can:-

• legally drive departmental vehicles; or
• is a potential risk of having a road accident in a departmental vehicle.

Section 87(2) of the Road Traffic Act 1988 makes it an offence to cause or permit another person to drive without a licence. Under this act the Department may be liable, and therefore face prosecution, if staff are found to be driving unlicensed. Furthermore, in the absence of a valid driving licence the Departmental insurance may be negated.

Official drivers found without a valid driving licence must have their authority to drive rights revoked. Officers will be held responsible in law by committing an offence and being found to lack a current driving licence.

If a driver’s licence has endorsements for driving offences, managers must decide whether there are sufficient grounds for suspending or revoking the authority to drive official/hire vehicles.

The Driver Road Risk Declaration form and managers checks are to be completed annually.