Survey reveals threat of CPC timebomb

21st April 2012

A survey by the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ Drive & Survive found that 24% of drivers don’t yet realise that failing to take the training on time will lead to their disqualification from professional driving.  Unqualified drivers will also have their vehicles seized.  

Since September 2008 and ‘09, all PCV and LCV drivers have been required to complete 35 hours of training every five years, to ensure they continue to be safe, courteous and fuel-efficient out on the roads.  For PCV drivers, the deadline is September 2013 and for LGV drivers it is September 2014.

Some 26% of the 300 drivers polled said they were part of Driver CPC programmes, but nearly a fifth had not yet taken any action, or were postponing their training.  The signs are that thousands of drivers will be applying for training next year in the run-up to the deadline, leading to capacity issues for driver training organisations.

Attitudes towards Driver CPC were also mixed, the survey said:

• 38% see it as a bureaucratic nuisance, but accept they must do it
• 29% agree with CPC
• 25% think it’s a waste of time and effort

IAM Drive & Survive head of training Simon Elstow said:  “Whether they agree with it, or not, commercial drivers must take the Driver CPC if they are to keep working.  With so many companies putting off their training until the last minute, there will be drivers who miss out simply because they’ve left it too late.”