We all know that when a driver gets points they’re required to submit their licence to the DVLA to have the endorsement applied to their licence’s paper counterpart. Last year, however, 42,000 people failed to do so within a month of receiving a notice of court conviction.

In the past, people who failed to submit their licence were given a 12-month period of grace. After this time their licence would be revoked and they would lose their entitlement to drive.

As of 7 November 2010, this period of grace has now been removed. If a driver doesn’t surrender their licence within 28 days the licence will be revoked straight away. To carry on driving is an offense and the same as driving without a licence at all.

This has important consequences for our fleet and motor clients. If one of their employees has their licence revoked and has an accident, this may affect the validity of the client’s insurance and their right to make a claim.

Additionally to this, section 87 s.2 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 states that it is an offence to permit someone to drive a vehicle when they do not have a licence: if a client knows that one of their drivers has had his licence revoked and allows him to carry on driving, he may be guilty of an offense himself.

Michael Tansey, Senior Account Consultant for RSA, said

“It’s vital that we work together to educate our policyholders and clients about the new deadline and the responsibilities that it brings. Our clients must make sure that their employees are reporting all driving convictions to them and getting their licences updated accordingly.”

Article courtesy of RSA. Published 24/01/11