The abolition of the paper counterpart undoubtedly presents a short term challenge for companies, but in the longer term, will encourage better practices for firms that require access to driving licence data, according to LICENCECHECK managing director Richard Brown.
This in turn, will improve road safety: “A small minority of drivers who have been using altered or forged counterparts are finally going to be exposed and taken off the road which should improve road safety for other drivers and members of the public,” commented Richard.
“Using technology to provide real-time data to employers about entitlement, validity, disqualifications, and endorsements would seem to be just another logical step to tighten the noose around those individuals determined to flout the law.”
He added that, for companies, the abolition of the paper counterpart presents a real opportunity for those charged with the management of vehicles and drivers: “It’s the perfect chance to review their current procedures and ensure they remain fit for purpose and commensurate with the perceived risks to their drivers and other road users.
“In many companies compliance has traditionally been seen as an unwelcome inconvenience to be dealt with at a junior level as cheaply as possible,” observed Richard. “In some organisations this culture will remain unchanged. Our own experience, however, has been that the abolition of the counterpart has actually elevated driver and vehicle compliance to boardroom level – much to the delight of fleet and operations managers.”
