If you drive a bus or lorry, did you know that even if you’re caught speeding in your own car, there could be implications on your professional role?
Vocational drivers are bound by strict rules and regulations around driving, one of them being their conduct. To help, I’m delighted to announce that we’ve created handy guidance to help make it easier for them to understand and comply with these complex rules and regulations.
This has come about after a great deal of cooperation between DVLA, the Department for Transport (DfT), the Traffic Commissioner for Wales, and trade associations in the bus and haulage industries. It’s another great example of partnership working to benefit some of our main stakeholders and customers.
What the guidance tells drivers
The guidance covers a range of topics, including:
- driver conduct
- the role of the Traffic Commissioners
- the Certificate of Professional Competence
- tachographs
- vehicle checks
- driver and medical licensing
It pulls together important information, all currently available on different pages across GOV.UK, in one place with handy links to more detailed content. We also customised it so that both bus and lorry (PCV and LGV) drivers have tailored versions and made it available in two formats.
There is a HTML format, designed for easy viewing on a smartphone or tablet, and a PDF version suitable for printing, allowing it to be folded to fit into a pocket or wallet.
Why the guidance matters
We know that the bus and haulage industries are facing challenging times – they’re having to operate in the current economic climate with a shortage of drivers.
Through this guidance, we can give vocational drivers the information they need to stay legal and drive safely on our roads. This in turn helps to keep more drivers delivering essential goods and transporting passengers throughout the UK.
A lot of excellent work has already been done at DVLA on our driver and medical licensing processes for vocational drivers. As this guide shows, we’re committed to providing services and products which make a driver’s contact with us as straightforward as possible.
It was good for us all too
It was great to work with the Traffic Commissioner, DfT, the trade associations and vocational drivers to come up with a product that is a must-have for any vocational driver. It was also important to us to design guidance that is easily accessible, and easily available to drivers in their wallet or on their smartphone.
And the feedback is very encouraging
Initial feedback from drivers has been excellent and we will continue to monitor the guidance to make sure it’s still relevant, up-to-date and informative. Here’s what drivers have told us:
“Information was clear, concise and easy to understand.”
“It’s good to see that 90% of people retain their driving licence [after declaring a medical condition], which is reassuring.”
“Clear and precise information that I did not know.”
As well as publishing the guidance on GOV.UK, we’ve sent it to relevant trade associations where companies and drivers can get a copy. If you’re in the industry, why not take a look.
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