Intelligent Fingerprinting: are your drivers fit for duty?
Drug testing specialist Intelligent Fingerprinting has warned that gaps in testing procedure may be increasing fleets’ liability risks.
With drug-driving charges on the rise and the legal landscape tightening around workplace safety, fleet operators are increasingly under pressure to ensure their drivers are fit for duty, says the company.
“As incidents involving impaired drivers continue to make headlines, the hidden risks to your company’s reputation, liability exposure, and operational safety are mounting,” said Ben Challoner, head of marketing at Intelligent Fingerprinting.
“Research shows that drug driving is no longer an outlier risk – it’s a widespread issue. In fact, between 2015 and 2020, drug driving charges in England and Wales surged by an alarming 125 per cent.
“As fleet operators, this statistic should trigger alarm bells. But the real question is: how many more drivers, untested and unnoticed, are still on the road under the influence?”
Substance abuse not only jeopardises the safety of drivers and other road users, says Ben, but also exposes fleet operators to significant legal and financial risks.
“Liability for accidents caused by impaired drivers could result in costly litigation, insurance premium hikes, and, most critically, damage to your brand,” he continued.
“A staggering percentage of substance users – 60-70 per cent – are in full-time employment, many of them in safety-critical roles. Yet, many companies still fall short in establishing a robust, frequent testing protocol to safeguard against the risks of drug-impacted driving.”
It’s no longer just about pre-employment screening or post-incident investigations, Ben contends.
“Random and routine testing should be the standard, yet many fleets neglect to perform adequate testing. Consider this: without regular drug screening, how many of your drivers are operating at less than full capacity, posing a risk not only to themselves but to the very people you’ve sworn to protect—your workforce and the public?
“At Intelligent Fingerprinting, our lab results paint a startling picture of drug use among workers in the transport and logistics sector. In the last three years there were 1,460 samples confirmed with drugs present in their confirmatory samples sent to our laboratory.
“These findings are a wake-up call for fleet operators, who must ask themselves: are you confident that your drivers are fit for duty every time they get behind the wheel?”
The legal framework surrounding drug use and driving is tightening, he adds, and companies can no longer afford to be complacent.
“Liability for drug-related accidents doesn’t just rest on the driver—it extends to the employer. In the event of an incident, courts are increasingly scrutinising what measures businesses have taken to prevent impaired drivers from getting on the road.
“Failure to implement a rigorous drug testing program exposes you to significant legal risks, and the reputational fallout from such incidents can be devastating. Fleet operators who don’t take a proactive approach are gambling with their business.”
While traditional drug testing methods, such as urine or saliva tests, are time-consuming, invasive, and often unpleasant for both the tester and the driver, fingerprint-based drug testing offers a clear alternative, Ben says.
“At Intelligent Fingerprinting, our non-invasive system screens for substances like cocaine, cannabis, opiates, and methamphetamine, delivering results in just ten minutes.
“Drivers simply provide a fingerprint sweat sample – an easy, dignified process that takes less than a minute. With a portable reader, you can conduct random tests on-site, before shifts, or even en route.
“This technology not only saves time but also eliminates the logistical complications and biohazard risks associated with traditional testing methods.
“Fingerprint drug testing provides a shorter window of detection – typically within 16-24 hours of use – ensuring you are screening for recent drug use that could impair a driver’s ability to perform their duties safely. This makes it an ideal solution for determining fitness for duty, particularly in industries where safety is paramount.
“The growing trend of drug driving is a wake-up call for fleet operators. Are you doing enough to protect your drivers, your business, and other road users? With increased scrutiny on health and safety practices, now is the time to implement – or upgrade – your drug testing policies.
“Fingerprint-based drug testing is a proven, effective way to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations while maintaining operational efficiency. It’s time to take action before an unnoticed risk becomes an unavoidable incident.”
