Driving for Work: Mythbusters
52 common misconceptions – and the facts employers and drivers need to know
Myth 27: We trust all our employees so we don’t need to do any checks
Trust and verification are not opposites.
Carrying out licence checks, vehicle inspections, and driver assessments is not an expression of distrust – it is an expression of responsibility.
Employers have legal duties that exist independently of how much they trust their staff.
Licence endorsements, medical conditions, and changes in fitness to drive can all occur without an employer’s knowledge, and trust alone cannot identify these changes.
A driver who is genuinely trustworthy will understand why checks are carried out.
Driver takeaway:
Checks are not a sign of distrust. A trustworthy driver has nothing to fear from a licence check, a vehicle inspection, or a driver assessment, and will understand why they are necessary.
Manager takeaway:
Verification is an expression of responsibility, not suspicion. Legal duties around licence checking, vehicle roadworthiness, and driver fitness exist independently of how much you trust your staff. Trust and verification must both be present in a safe organisation.
