Bosses want access to national driver licence database

Trucking and courier companies want direct access to the national driver licence database to check for drivers who may not have disclosed medical conditions to their employers.

Their call comes after the Germanwings disaster in France and the Glasgow bin lorry carnage, both involving employees who hid vital information that would have kept them from the cockpit and driving seat respectively.

The Freight Transport Association of Ireland (FTAI) has told the Department of Transport and the Data Protection Commissioner its members want to be allowed “to directly access the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) to verify the accuracy and currency of driver licence details”.