With Christmas starting to be whispered around the office, we’re fast approaching a period that sees a 41% increase in drink-driving convictions. Focus your drivers on understanding the facts around licence related risks and improve the functional performance of your fleet.

Driving and alcohol shouldn’t be mixed – this is well understood and accepted amongst drivers. However, the residual effects that drinking has the ability to drive the following morning are still underestimated. 1 in 5 drivers that are convicted of drink driving each year, are on their way to – or at work the next day. This is only one aspect of licence risk, but a worthwhile and necessary focus at this time of the year.
Licence Link provides you with the information needed to be able to act to create a safer driving environment. However, if this information is not supported by a well-managed process it simply informs with no action. We recommend taking the following approach to help achieve a healthier, less risky fleet:

• Understanding the current endorsement state of your company drivers
  The first step to improving the driving health of your fleet is evaluating the level of endorsements held. To do this you need to have recently checked your driver’s licences and have categorised them by risk. Are any drivers a single conviction away from being unable to drive? What is your average endorsement level?
• Discuss their risk level on an individual basis and communicate why duty of care is important
  Encourage conversation and action with your drivers and make them aware of ‘random checks’ which are carried out by police on the road to tackle drink driving. Ensure they are aware of this and if in doubt avoid drinking the night before work. Speak directly with each employee and carry out any form of risk assessments to abide by the safe and practical guidelines. Communicate effectively that duty of care is important as any form of irresponsible behaviour can lead to a loss of job, as well as a loss of licence. You as the employer have a moral obligation to ensure the well-being of others and the Health and Safety Act (1974) corresponds to this.
• Educate drivers on how they can improve their licence health and the festive risks
  Avoid drinking during the working week as checks can be carried out at any point, ensure all drivers are operating with the normal guidelines – appropriate breaks and a good amount of rest. In the festive period there is an incline of social gatherings, and the level of alcohol intake, be prepared for this by taking a taxi, having a designated driver or simply driving and not drinking at all.
• Maintain this cycle as a new business process of continuous improvement
  Persist with this new routine throughout the whole year. It is important to remain this vigilant practice with all employees, stay up to date with news and inform them of any updates. Make sure you continuously check licences to sustain an appropriate duty of care and communicate this individually. Make it a priority to know the current endorsement state of each employee, which will improve the functional performance of your fleet. All of the above combined will create awareness on the drink driving risks and will also create a culture of safety, practicability and reliance.