Chevin, a provider of fleet management systems, is offering guidance to fleets on how to use its software to implement new policies relevant to recently-introduced drug-driving laws.

It is now an offence to drive with certain controlled drugs above a specified level in your blood, just as it is with drink driving.  Penalties include a minimum one year driving ban, a fine of up to £5,000, up to six months in prison and a criminal record.

Ashley Sowerby, Managing Director, said: “Fleets need to respond to these changes at a policy level, both looking at how to handle anyone who is given a drug-driving conviction and also how to manage drivers who are currently taking presctiption drugs.”

Ashley added that there is a long list of presctiption medications affected by the new laws.  “If you have been prescribed them by a medical professional, there is a defence in law, but it would be much better - arguably even essential – for employers to know whether drivers are taking them in advance from a risk management point of view, especially if they could potentially affect driving ability,” he said.

Ashley said that in Chevin’s FleetWave software, the driver module could be used to record and monitor almost any duty of care issues and that this would be the most practical and effective method of managing the new situation for existing users.  Also, licences could be batch checked with the DVLA for relevant endorsements direct from the system.