The Freight Transport Association says it has persuaded the government to delay plans to abolish the paper counterpart to the driving licence until an online system suitable for businesses has been developed.

  
It has now been announced that the removal of the counterpart will not go ahead on the 1 January, 2015 as originally planned.
 
The initial proposal in 2011 to remove the counterpart was supported by the FTA on the condition that a suitable online replacement for business users who rely on the document to check their drivers are legally entitled to drive was in place prior to its removal. The FTA considers the proposed electronic system is not fit for purpose.
 
Ian Gallagher, FTA Head of Policy for Driver Licencing said, "Businesses that employ a large number of people who have to drive for a living have a critical role in ensuring these drivers are safe and eligible to be on the road.  FTA members desperately want a sophisticated electronic system for monitoring their drivers - but the system the government is currently proposing is not suitable for business needs.  The decision to postpone the scrapping of the counterpart is therefore welcomed while we all work together to sort out a system which is fit for purpose."