The original driving licence with the PrDP endorsed G,P is seen above. The new licence (Top) qualifies the holder to drive a truck carrying dangerous goods - see the 'D' on the PrDP bottom right of the licence. The holder never applied for and is certainly not qualified for this task.
'This is a hornet's nest as it throws all licenses under suspicion'

Don't trust that license

Here's a warning to all operators employing new drivers. Do not trust the information on the driving license. It may be wrong writes Patrick O'Leary.

For FleetWatch to make a public statement that you should not trust the information given on a driving license may be considered harsh. However, we stand by it as it is based on substance rather than perception.

Our attention was first directed to this problem by a letter we received from one of our readers, Nigel Hamilton, who wrote as follows:

With reference to Jack Webster's article in the December issue of FleetWatch and his admonition to employers to ensure the authenticity of drivers' licences, I enclose copies of my old and new PrDP. (See reproductions of the photostatted licences alongside article -Ed).

You will note that, in the intervening two years, I have qualified to convey dangerous goods when the relevant regulations are eventually implemented. The interesting thing is that I certainly did not "buy" this facility, I did not request it nor did I produce any certificate. And, of course, I am in no way qualified for it. It is also many years since the Department of Transport ceased the helpful practice of verifying the licences of employment applicants.

The lesson when recruiting drivers is not to trust the information on the licence (including the vehicle class), which will merely keep you on the right side of the law when the accident happens, but to follow the time-honoured procedures of practical testing and reference checks.
Nigel Hamilton
Bonaero Park

On receiving this letter, I phoned Hamilton to discuss the issue. He says it is not the first error he has seen on a PrDP. There have been others. He relates the story of a friend who applied for the new format licence. When it came back, the friend was licensed to drive a truck. He is a retired fighter-jet test pilot and has never driven a truck in his life.

We have since asked other operators if they have had similar experiences and unfortunately, the answer is yes. There are many such errors - not only relating to PrDp endorsements but to all license categories.

The point to note is that this is not a case of bribery where applicants are bribing officials to issue them with false licenses. As Hamilton states: "I did not 'buy' this facility. I did not request it nor did I produce any certificate". What this therefore tells us is that there is a serious flaw in the system, the repercussions of which could be horrendous.

Certainly there are many who will not take advantage of the flaw. However, as we well know, the culture of 'graft' that has embedded itself in South Africa society is such that there will be those who do take advantage of these flaws. It could happen therefore that an unsuspecting operator will employ a totally unqualified driver to pilot a vehicle carrying dangerous goods. The license says he is suitably qualified so the operator cannot be blamed for employing him in that area.

A hornet's nest
It's a hornet's nest this one for it throws all licenses under suspicion. FleetWatch has taken the issue up with the National Directorate of Road Traffic and forwarded the example of Nigel Hamilton for investigation.

We have since received word from the Directorate that all licenses endorsed with the D category will be withdrawn as Section 8 of the Road Traffic Regulations dealing with Dangerous Goods is not yet law. It was gazetted on March 17, 2000 and the effective date is set for August 1, 2001. But that date has not yet arrived so category D drivers are not yet legal.

We are now awaiting feedback from the authorities on a full investigation into the incorrect categorisation of driving licenses and the seemingly unbridled issuing of endorsements of PrDps for drivers who neither apply nor qualify for what is issued.

In the meantime, our advice to operators hiring drivers is to heed Hamilton's advice and revert to the old method of testing and references rather than relying on the license. Should any operator know of any driving licenses that have been incorrectly issued, please contact us.