{"id":7585,"date":"2020-09-20T12:14:29","date_gmt":"2020-09-20T10:14:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=7585"},"modified":"2020-09-20T12:14:54","modified_gmt":"2020-09-20T10:14:54","slug":"fleet-managers-4","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2020\/09\/20\/fleet-managers-4\/","title":{"rendered":"Fleet managers risk conviction for employees\u2019 driving offences"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Fleet decision-makers could face the same penalty points as their employees should they be convicted of a driving offence, the Licence Bureau is warning.<\/p>\n

The supplier of driver licence validation services says it is witnessing an increasing number of these cases being recorded on its system.<\/p>\n

Responsible parties can incur the same penalty points as the actual vehicle driver due to the often unknown and much misunderstood \u2018cause or permit to drive\u2019 legislation.<\/p>\n

Licence Bureau says that it means even though the initial offence was committed by a third party, it was ultimately the fleet manager\u2019s responsibility.<\/p>\n

Steve Pinchen, sales director of Licence Bureau, explained: \u201cThis much unknown rule has some very serious implications indeed for individuals and businesses alike.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose responsible for business fleets \u2013 of any scale \u2013 really do need to do their homework and ensure that they have all bases covered when it comes to compliance. Not only that, but there is a cultural aspect here too where everyone must be attuned to minimising road safety risk.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the Road Traffic Act 1988\/1991, ownership of a vehicle involved in an offence is irrelevant. This therefore implicates both owned business fleet and grey fleet operators.<\/p>\n

The Act also cites that causing or permitting driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence can incur three to six points with fine up to \u00a31,000.<\/p>\n

The points remain for four years on licence from date of offence. The \u2018person responsible for the fleet\u2019 can have the points added to their own personal driving licence.<\/p>\n

At present, the majority of these \u2018dual penalty recipient\u2019 offences recorded on Licence Bureau\u2019s system relate to \u2018causing or permitting using a vehicle uninsured against third party risks\u2019 \u2013 an offence which carries six to eight penalty points.<\/p>\n

Pinchen said: \u201cBeyond the actual penalty points there are the knock-on implications for elevated risk profiles within the business and what that might mean for insurance premiums; professional and personal impacts for fleet managers; as well as potential for reputational damage for the company.\u201d<\/p>\n

Other offences recorded on Licence Bureau\u2019s system include \u2018using a vehicle with defective tyres\u2019 which carries three penalty points for each individual implicated, and \u2018using a mobile phone while driving a motor vehicle\u2019 which carries three to six penalty points.<\/p>\n

The volume of motoring fines and penalties incurred by\u00a0company car and van drivers\u00a0increased by 3% in 2019, according to figures from Lex Autolease<\/a> released earlier this year.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n
\n
\"Gareth<\/a><\/div>\n
\n