Six out of 10 employers do not believe 17-24 year-olds are adequately prepared to drive at work, even if they have passed their driving tests, prompting the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) to call for a qualification for staff to drive at work.

According to RoSPA's research, more than half the employers surveyed would like to see a post-driving test for staff, in view of estimates that one in three road accidents involves a vehicle being driven for work purposes.

Three quarters of employers report their younger staff drive in situations not assessed in the standard driver testing process.

Duncan Vernon, road safety manager at RoSPA, said: "Many employers do not rely on the driving licence as evidence of competence to drive for work and many conduct their own assessments before allowing their employees to drive for work purposes. It is not surprising so many said they would find post-test driving for work useful."