Employees who drive for work usually start covering business mileage within days of joining. Induction is the natural point to establish what the organisation expects and to understand how someone actually drives, before habits become invisible.
What organisations commonly include
- Licence entitlement confirmed for the vehicle the employee will drive, with the check recorded.
- Eyesight confirmed to the standard required for driving.
- The driving-for-work policy provided, explained and acknowledged.
- Vehicle familiarisation, including the daily walkaround check and any safety technology.
- The defect and incident reporting process explained, including who to contact and when.
- A practical driver assessment at or shortly after the point the employee becomes authorised to drive.
Why a practical step at induction is useful
A new starter assessment establishes a documented practical baseline from the start of employment. It identifies development needs before mileage builds up, and it makes new starters directly comparable with the existing driving population when the same criteria and reporting format are used.
It is also the least contentious point at which to assess someone. An assessment at induction is understood as part of joining; the same assessment introduced years later can be misread as a response to a concern.
Employees who are newly authorised rather than newly employed
A common gap is the existing employee who becomes authorised to drive — a site-based colleague moving into a field role, or someone moving from a car to a van. They join an existing team without going through induction, so it is worth confirming that the same steps apply when driving authorisation changes, not only when employment starts.
Please note
Information on this website is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For advice on your organisation’s specific duties, consult a qualified health and safety practitioner or legal adviser and refer to current HSE guidance.