Business breathes easier with Driver Check

For immediate release Driver check one of two
24 January 2002

Business breathes easier with Driver Check

Fancy having a company vehicle impounded for 30 days and being stuck with the bills for towing and storage?
If an employee with a suspended or disqualified licence is caught driving one of your company's vehicles, that's exactly what could happen.
The good news is that it's a situation that can be easily avoided. An internet-based Land Transport Safety Authority service called Driver Check allows companies to check on the status of employees’ driver licences, and automatically advises when an employee's licence status changes.
The service was introduced in May 1999 to help prevent new roadside vehicle impoundment measures from penalising employers unfairly. Under the impoundment laws, police must impound any vehicle driven by a person who has been disqualified, suspended or forbidden from driving.
"Roadside vehicle impoundment is a serious penalty, and it's the employer who ultimately faces the cost and inconvenience of having a company vehicle impounded. Employers need to know that their employees are properly licensed to drive. With Driver Check, they can be sure," said Director of Land Transport Safety David Wright.
Companies registered on the Driver Check system are automatically notified of any changes to the status of each linked driver licence.

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Driver check two of two
The system was developed in conjunction with the Road Transport Forum, the Bus and Coach Association, the Contractors’ Federation and the New Zealand Taxi Federation. As well as allowing companies to check on the validity of their employees’ driver licences, Driver Check also lets rental companies ensure they only hire out vehicles to licensed drivers.
Over 1,000 companies have registered with Driver Check since it was introduced, with a combined total of approximately 20,000 drivers now linked to the service. Companies have been notified of over 67,000 changes to the status of their employees' licences.
One of the largest companies to sign on to Driver Check is Stagecoach New Zealand, with over 1,300 drivers registered. Stagecoach Operations Director Darryl Bellamy says using Driver Check is a hassle-free means of ensuring that the company's drivers are properly licensed.
"It gives us peace of mind. By using Driver Check we know that we won't find ourselves with a disqualified driver behind the wheel of one of our buses. That protects us as a business, and more importantly it protects the safety of customers who put their trust in our drivers."
To find out more about Driver Check or to sign up as a registered user of the system, visit www.drivercheck.govt.nz, or e-mail drivercheck@tregistry.co.nz.

For further assistance:

LTSA Media Manager Stagecoach Operations Director
Andy Knackstedt Darryl Bellamy
Tel: 04 494 8751 or 025 763 222 021 936 618

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