The number of non-British drivers trading in their licence for UK ones has risen by 79% in the last decade, putting businesses at risk of breaching their duty of care obligations.
This is according to Licence Bureau, which urges UK businesses to ensure there are sufficient risk mitigation practices in place, through robust processes and education.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Access deeper industry intelligence
Experience unmatched clarity with a single platform that combines unique data, AI, and human expertise.
“Businesses need to proactively ensure drivers working in their company not only hold the correct and valid licence but are provided with the necessary education and insight to confidently use the UK’s roads,” said Malcolm Maycock, managing director of Licence Bureau.
“To counter the challenges associated with these licence exchanges, we encourage businesses to be proactive in implementing the necessary licence validation checks and supporting awareness protocols.”
The concern is regarding drivers on the UK roads with no former experience or formal insight into the country’s road laws and behaviours.
The Department for Transport (DfT), responsible for the licence exchange system, said: “To ensure the safety of everyone on our roads, we only recognise other countries’ driver testing if it is robust and comparable to ours.”
However, Licence Bureau urges businesses to go further in fulfilling their duty of care obligations. The UK has a reciprocal deal with 50 countries, enabling motorists to switch licenses when they become British residents.
“Production of a driving licence, in most cases, provides a form of evidence based on home-nation driving competence but our business advice is to take a proactive stance and provide a structured integration policy in readiness for workers to use the UK’s roads,” said Maycock.
“It’s very much a case of supporting best practice and ensuring duty of care obligations are satisfied – protecting not only your business and its people but other road users too.”
In 2015, Licence Bureau partnered with Alphabet, the fleet leasing arm of BMW Group, to introduce a compliance management service. The deal provided Alphabet with access to Licence Bureau’s online compliance managed services portable, offering a range of compliance and licence checking tools.
