Industry on target for Driver CPC deadline, claims DVSA
The Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has said the ‘vast majority’ of drivers will have completed their 35 hours of periodic training by the 10 September Driver CPC deadline.
The agency cites estimates that between 425,000 and 675,000 professional bus, coach and lorry drivers were in scope of the scheme. But the current figures show that nearly 800,000 drivers are engaged in Driver CPC, and that just over 564,000 have completed their 35 hours’ training.
Over a million training hours were logged in July alone.
The agency echoed previous warnings by both DVSA and the traffic commissioners, reminding drivers and operators that failing to adhere to Driver CPC training requirements would incur risks of fines or even losing their livelihood.
“Existing drivers were awarded ‘acquired rights’ which took their previous experience into account and allowed them 5 years to do their first block of 35 hours’ training. The deadline is now a month away and DVSA is urging all ‘acquired rights’ drivers to make sure they complete their 35 hours before 10 September 2014,” the agency said.
“Driver CPC has a lot to offer and it’s up to drivers and employers to make sure they get the most out of it by choosing courses that are relevant to them and the type of driving they do, or courses that develop their knowledge in a new subject area.”
DVSA’s chief executive, Alastair Peoples, added: “Britain’s roads are among the safest in the world and one of the ways we aim to keep them so is by encouraging all drivers to keep their skills up to date. This is particularly important for professional drivers.
“We’re encouraged by the number of drivers participating in periodic training, but we urge all professional drivers and their employers to be aware of the deadline and make sure they’re able to comply.
“DVSA enforcement officers already routinely check the Driver CPC status of professional drivers. After the deadline they’ll be able to check whether ‘acquired rights’ lorry drivers have completed their training or are driving illegally. Not being aware of Driver CPC is not an excuse for drivers or operators and there will be no amnesty period.”
Joan Aitken, lead traffic commissioner on Driver CPC, said: “Driver CPC is not an optional extra. The industry has been given plenty of notice of the deadline and any offences will be reported to traffic commissioners.
“Vocational licence holders and operators could find themselves appearing before commissioners if drivers are found working without their driver qualification card (DQC), or fail to produce it.
“Traffic commissioners were pleased to see a high level of compliance by operators and drivers ahead of the deadline for the bus and coach industry a year ago. We very much hope that the goods industry will prove to be on the ball too and that the need for prosecutions or referrals to traffic commissioners will be limited.”
Driving without a DQC or failing to produce it carries a maximum fine of £1,000, DVSA warned, for both drivers and holders of operator licences. These offences will be referred to the traffic commissioner, who may suspend drivers’ or operators’ licences.
