At Silver Arrow Recruitment we know how important it is for our clients that the drivers we provide are of the highest standard.  This article explores why our pre-registration checks and training are so important.

According to new figures from the Home Office, more than 2.5 million drivers faced a fixed penalty, a driver awareness course or were sent to court in 2022.

Tougher legislation was introduced in March 2022, and the year on year increase was dramatic:

Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said:

“Almost three million drivers were caught and prosecuted for how they acted on the roads.

“With speeding at a record high, it is a timely reminder that the best regulator of speed is the driver’s right foot.”

He added:

“The tightening of the law for using a handheld mobile phone behind the wheel saw a significant increase in drivers being issued fines and points.

“The AA led the campaign to highlight the dangers of picking up the phone while driving, now we need drivers to hang up their handset rather than fiddle with the phone.”

At Silver Arrow Recruitment our process is stringent, thorough and slick – to ensure that only the highest quality candidate is proposed for any position.  We ensure that any potential drivers are fully conversant in the latest rules and regulations of the road.

Changes in the Highway Code in January 2022 also introduced a “hierarchy” of road users, with better protection for pedestrians amongst other groups.  Offences for neglecting pedestrian rights and traffic signs increased by a third year on year.

Research shows illegal phone usage is still rife.  30% of under-25s admitted to video calling while driving, up from 17% in 2022.  The Government changed the law to cover any use of a handheld phone while driving in 2022.

RAC road safety spokesman Rod Dennis said:

“It’s more than 20 years since it first became illegal to use a handheld phone while driving, and 17 years since the offence was first punishable through penalty points.

“Yet despite the penalties having since doubled to six penalty points and a £200 fine seven years ago, it’s clear far too many drivers are still prepared to put lives at risk by engaging in this dangerous practice.”

Our daily worker and client feedback checks, paired with quarterly licence checks and mandatory worker competence checks make sure that we provide the right candidate for the right position.  If a driver is unclear about any aspect of their role, we ensure that help and advice is never far away.

The RAC suspects that the main reason for this is the lack of enforcement, which means there is little fear of being caught. Police trials of new cameras, capable of identifying drivers who are not wearing a seatbelt or using a mobile phone while driving, are being expanded.

If you are a client looking for a high quality driver or have any other staffing requirements,  please contact us here; https://silverarrow.co.uk/contact/ If you are a driver, or you are looking for your next career move, please visit our website to see how we can help! https://silverarrow.co.uk/