Pre-Employment and Ongoing Driver Screening Matters!

April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month, a timely reminder for South Africans as many undertake trips during the many short weeks in April. Insurance data shows distracted driving increases the likelihood of a crash by 60%. The World Health Organisation warns that using a mobile phone while driving increases crash risk by up to four times, and South Africa’s Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) consistently lists driver distraction as a major contributor to fatal accidents. This April, make a conscious decision: never drive while distracted (DWD). #DistractedDrivingAwarenessMonth

Employers must treat driver screening as business-critical, as drivers are the frontline risk for many organisations. Hiring or retaining someone with the wrong licence status, an invalid Public Driving Permit (PDP), or poor aptitude can cost lives, reputations and insurance premiums. Robust pre-employment and ongoing screening is not just compliance, it’s duty of care.

Key checks every responsible employer should require

  • Driver’s licence verification: Confirm class, validity and any endorsements or suspensions.
  • PDP verification: For commercial passenger or freight work, verify current, legitimate public driving permits.
  • Psychometric and aptitude assessments: Measure risk perception, attention, decision-making, and temperament to identify candidates suited for safe-driving roles.
  • Driving history and sanction checks: Review accident records, traffic fines and disciplinary history.
  • Periodic rescreening: Licences lapse, permits change, and behaviours evolve, schedule ongoing verification and random checks where appropriate.

Eugene Herbert, CEO of MasterDrive, notes: “According to the World Health Organisation, using a mobile phone while driving increases the crash risk by up to four times. This applies to both handheld use and Bluetooth, as it measures cognitive distraction. In South Africa, the RTMC consistently lists driver distraction as a major contributing factor in fatal accidents.

It is difficult to obtain accurate data because in the aftermath of a crash, it is not always possible to conclusively attribute it to DWD.”

Common distractions include:

  • Mobile phone use (calls, texting, social media)
  • Eating or drinking behind the wheel
  • Adjusting GPS, radio or climate controls
  • Conversations with passengers (especially children)
  • Emotional distraction or daydreaming
  • Grooming or reaching for objects

Any activity that takes eyes off the road, hands off the wheel, or mind off driving dramatically raises risk.

A stark illustration: at 120 km/h a vehicle travels roughly 33 metres per second. A four to five-second glance at a phone is the equivalent of travelling the length of a rugby field blind.

With many public holidays in April in South Africa, more families are on the road, and DWD incidents often spike. More occupants, more distractions, higher stakes. Employers who send staff on trips during holiday periods should be especially vigilant.

What employers can do:

  • Integrate screening into hiring and retention: Make licence and PDP verification, plus psychometric driver aptitude assessments, standard for driver roles. Recheck all of these periodically.
  • Use evidence-based selection: Validate skills with driving simulations, work trials or ride along assessments when possible.
  • Implement a clear distracted-driving policy: require employee pledges, ban handheld phone use while driving, and establish disciplinary and positive reinforcement measures.
  • Provide training and awareness: Distribute materials, hold toolbox talks, and use accredited driver safety programmes.
  • Lead by example: Managers must model safe behaviour and enforce policies consistently.
  • Monitor and measure: Track incidents, near misses and compliance; feed results back into screening and training.

iFacts offers comprehensive driver screening solutions: licence and PDP verification, psychometric driver aptitude testing, driving history checks and periodic rescreening programmes tailored to your fleet or staff. Protect your people, safeguard your business and reduce operational risk with evidence based screening and ongoing monitoring.

This April, commit to safer roads. Prevent distracted driving, for your employees, your passengers and your community.

#DistractedDrivingAwarenessMonth