The Association for Driving Licence Verification (ADLV) www.adlv.co.uk is to launch a new package of measures aimed at reinforcing the quality and   security of driving licence data for corporate fleet users.

The measures will form the first steps towards a new industry standard aimed at ensuring risk free access to licence data once the paper counterpart disappears. The new measures are seen as a response to corporate fleet concerns over non-commercial licence checking services which some worry are open to potential misuse and abuse by staff which leaves their employers at risk under current data protection legislation.

Richard Payne-Gill, a Director of the ADLV, said: “Data security and avoidance of data fraud are issues requiring sound governance. Corporate HR Directors, Risk Specialists and Fleet Managers must adhere to only the highest standards of Information Security when it comes to their employee’s data. Any serious breach leaves them exposed to   the law and potentially affects their reputation as an employer.

“DVLA is soon to introduce the Share My Driving Licence facility (SMDL) which will allow motorists to share up-to-date information electronically about their driving entitlement. The ADLV has shared its concerns with the DVLA about allowing the driver to produce a PDF version of their record which could easily be manipulated. Without training companies may inadvertently accept the document as proof of entitlement to drive not understanding they still need to check further online.

“Corporate users can avoid this issue by using the services which are already commercially available, these are equipped to deal with employers that need batch services for reasons of organisational efficiency rather than a transactional service, ensuring that their driving licence entitlement is correct and sufficient for their purposes.

“As corporate users cannot accept any risk, especially when it comes to employee data, they have welcomed the professional, independent licence verification services provided initially my members of the DVLA’s EDECS system and more recently the ADLV itself. Where corporate fleet managers only use an ADLV member, it reduces such risks and these new measures will reinforce the quality of the service they deliver. By using the services of an ADLV member, the possibility of someone playing fast and loose with driver licence data is history.

“The package includes a membership roadmap to ISO 27001 compliance and the addition of e-consent for ID Assurance; ensuring an individual’s identity is properly verified before sensitive personal information is accessed.”

The ADLV is currently working on a range of other new standards aimed at effective corporate fleet governance, which are to be announced soon.

Fleets seek electronic data checking benefits now as counterpart abolition delayed

The abolition of the photocard licence counterpart is being delayed until 8 June 2015. From that date it will not be valid and will no longer be issued by DVLA.

The ADLV has responded to news of the delay and, in its view, the abolition date is irrelevant as the time for many fleets to change their processes is now. This reflects a recognition by the Association that some corporate fleet users are concerned that even when the current alternative proposed by the DVLA becomes available it might not address all their business compliance and operational requirements for fleets of 20 or more.

As an alternative approach and a call to action, the ADLV is recommending that fleet managers evaluate available commercial alternatives now to reap immediate and significant efficiency savings as well as data security enhancements.

As the ADLV Chair Malcolm Maycock said: “The benefits of electronic checking are already available and proven so why wait until someone decides a date for the inevitable? Organisations seeking to professionally manage and protect their employees’ driver data should make the move to electronic checking now.”

The ADLV’s Technical Director Kevin Curtis said: “Working alongside the DVLA the ADLV will launch a ‘Real Time’ checking service early in the New Year. We also plan to launch the new eConsent service for paperless checks as well as the current ‘wet signature’ D796. ADLV members offer a risk free and compliant solution to managing driver data and this is being well received by those who wish to take a professional approach.”

The ADLV will also be contacting fleet managers to recommend they make the move to electronic verification now instead of waiting for the paper counterpart to be abolished.