Why do employers check driving records?
Why do employers check driving records?
It’s easy to think little of getting caught running a red light here or receiving the occasional speeding ticket there, but an accumulation of these small traffic violations can impact your ability to land a job. Because driving records can serve as indicators of prior legal complications, it’s common for employers to routinely investigate the driving records of applicants, even for positions that don’t require any company vehicle usage.
When employers perform background checks and check the records of potential staff, they’re often looking to screen out parties with a questionable history or uncertain character. The presence of DUI arrests or previous license suspensions on your record can reflect negatively on how an employer interprets your personal integrity. This impression greatly influences the hiring process and can result in being denied the position, regardless of how qualified you may be for the job.
Employers also execute vehicle record checks to help safeguard themselves against lawsuits in the future. Because this history is representative of how one regularly operates a vehicle, companies tend to avoid bad drivers for positions that involve any amount of driving due to the possibility of liability in the event of an accident. The greater your traffic violations, the more likely an employer is to see you as a risk as opposed to an asset they want on the team. Employer’s need to make sure that they’re hiring the right person for the job.
Because these vehicle background checks are so susceptible to scrutiny, driving responsibly and maintaining a careful disposition on the road can be surprisingly beneficial, in the long-term, for securing a job. Remember, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. By being a better driver today, you’re helping a future you look good in the eyes of a potential employer.