Communities and Local Government written question – answered at on 30 November 2009.
To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what mechanisms are in place to ensure that staff who drive (a) a vehicle for which (i) his Department and (ii) one of its executive agencies is responsible have valid driving licences and (b) their own vehicles in the course of their official duties for (A) his Department and (B) one of its executive agencies have valid driving licences and insurance; what guidance is issued to those staff in respect of road safety while carrying out official duties; what steps are taken to monitor compliance with that guidance; what requirements there are on such staff to report to their line managers accidents in which they are involved while driving in the course of their official duties; and whether such reports are investigated.
The mechanisms covering staff who drive in the course of their employment for Communities and Local Government or one of its Executive agencies are as follows:
Communities and Local Government
Where Communities and Local Government staff need to drive their own vehicle as part of their official duties they are required to demonstrate they have a valid driving licences, appropriate insurance, a current vehicle excise disc and a current test certificate. General advice on road safety is available to all staff via the Department's intranet system and line managers are required to monitor compliance with this guidance. In addition, staff who claim for mileage expenses must certify they meet the necessary requirements. The Department does not operate a fleet service.
In addition to any appropriate notification of a road traffic accident to the police and/or their insurer, staff working for Communities and Local Government are required enter a report on the Department's accident reporting system in the event of a road traffic accident while driving on departmental business. Any formal investigation into a report of a road traffic accident would be carried out by the relevant police force.
Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre
The QEII Conference Centre does not require any staff to drive as part of their official duties.
The Planning Inspectorate request copies of an individual's Driver licence, insurance certificate showing use for business purposes, V5 and MOT certificate (if required) before they are permitted to drive for the agency. All drivers have been issued with a drivers handbook which includes information and advice regarding their vehicle, the driver and the journey. The booklet also advises what to do in the event of an accident. The Planning Inspectorate are piloting on-line training, which includes a module and quiz on 'Managing Occupational Road Risk' and this will be rolled-out to all staff. Training will be at regular intervals and completion can be monitored electronically.
Staff working for the Fire Service College who requisition an official college vehicle are required to declare that they hold a valid driving licence; that they will take reasonable care when driving the vehicle; and that they will report any accidents that occur while driving in the course of their official duties. Such accidents will then be investigated.
Fire Service College travel policy requires staff to officially declare that, when using a private vehicle for official duties: they hold a valid driving licence, they have appropriate insurance and are authorised to use the vehicle for business purposes. Staff are not specifically required to notify the college of any accidents that occur while driving a private vehicle in the course of their official duties.
Yes0 people think so
No0 people think not
Would you like to ask a question like this yourself? Use our Freedom of Information site.