Legal responsibilities
Being licensed
Every driver must have the correct class of driver licence for the type of vehicle they intend to drive. They might also need a driver licence endorsement. Find out more about driver licences and licence endorsement.
You may be interested in our Driver Check service that enables authorised users to query the status of driver licences. If you link your drivers to your business, you'll be automatically advised of any changes to the status of their licences.
Complying with traffic rules
Drivers are required to comply with traffic rules, most of which are explained in the Road code and local bylaws, whenever they are driving.
A number of penalties apply to drivers found to be breaking the driving rules, including vehicle impoundment.
Driver responsibilities
Drivers have a number of responsibilities and obligations. These include holding:
- a correct and valid driver licence
- the correct licence endorsement.
Drivers must also renew their licences on time (allowing enough time for us to process the renewals before their current licences expire).
Being fit for duty
Drivers are responsible for coming to work 'fit for duty'. Factors that can affect wellbeing and fitness for work include:
- having a second job
- undertaking recreational and sporting activities
- not having enough sleep
- experiencing stressful situations
- consuming alcohol/other drugs or medication
- coping with the demands of family and relationships
- experiencing changes to their normal routines
- issues with their personal health.
Many of these factors will leave drivers fatigued and therefore unfit for duty, while medical and health conditions can affect the ability to think quickly and clearly, or even complete the physical components of their jobs. Find out more about medical requirements and fitness to drive.
Driving a safe vehicle
Drivers are responsible for checking their vehicles, making sure they are safe to use and reporting any faults to the fleet or vehicle controller.
Being a safe and courteous driver
Professional drivers should always:
- be safe and courteous
- obey the road rules
- understand that others make mistakes
- be tolerant
- set an example to others.
This also applies away from work.
Identifying and preventing fatigue
Fatigue is identified as a hazard in the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (external link).
The act defines a hazardous situation as:
- a situation where a person's behaviour may be an actual or potential cause or source of harm to the person or another person; and
- a situation described in (a) resulting from physical or mental fatigue, drugs, alcohol, traumatic shock, or another temporary condition that affects a persons' behaviour.
Find out more about identifying and preventing driver fatigue.
Investing in driver training
No matter how sophisticated a vehicle's technology, driver behaviour is the most crucial factor in avoiding crashes.
You can improve safety for your drivers and other road users by investing in driver training - so they know how to use their vehicles and have a good understanding of your expectations of their behaviour while driving.
Find out more about the driver training options available through Tranzqual (external link), the training organisation for the road transport industry.
Ensuring workplace safety
Under the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992, a work-related vehicle is considered part of the workplace. This means that the health and safety rules applying to the workplace also apply to work-related motor vehicles.
See the Department of Labour's guide to the Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992.
