Driving and Transportation
This section covers driving in the UK, what your recruit needs to know and the legalities of driving in the UK. Your organisation will, of course, have its own processes covering staff using their cars during their work and these will equally apply to your international recruit.
In addition, this section covers a range of information about public transport, how to get out and about in the local area and the different options including active transport (cycle schemes/e-scooters/e-bikes), buses, trains and places and environments you can walk/cycle to get to work and for leisure.
This knowledge will help your recruit to settle better in their area, especially if the place of work/living is more rural with some areas more difficult to access. Do use this resource in your induction process and ongoing support.
For quick navigation of this guide, please use the links below:
Driving and Licences
Driving can be perceived as an obstacle to people new to the country, but there are various strategies to support people. There is a range of key advice from central government about driving in the UK here:
Driving in the UK and abroad – Gov.uk:
Driving in the UK: a comprehensive guide for expats – Expatica
If your recruit is unable to drive, they can apply for a Provisional Driving Licence in the UK after they have been settled in the country for at least 185 days.
A person from a country outside the EU/EEA, may be able to drive in the UK for up to 12 months using their valid foreign driving licence. However, as the sponsoring organisation you should check the specific rules and requirements with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) or the UK government website, as there may be additional restrictions or conditions based on their country of origin.
Those sites will give you the most up to date information and guidance on driving with a foreign licence in the UK as rules/regulations do change over time. This may be especially important as your international recruit will probably be planning on moving to the UK on a permanent basis.
Some organisations have started a new recruit’s work in environments where travel is not initially required until the new recruit is able to drive, is confident and understands the law with regard to driving in the UK.
Managers could consider asking an experienced carer/support worker to share their knowledge of driving in your community with a recruit who has a car. What are the things to avoid or to know about? For example, parking restrictions, low emissions zones, car crime risks, fuelling and maintenance options. There is likely to be a wealth of knowledge within teams, and useful contacts with dependable companies for servicing, MOT, and other essentials.
In most countries in the world, traffic passes on the right-hand side of the road, while in the UK traffic keeps to the left. Some people adapt more easily than others to making this change.
Left and right-hand traffic – Wikipedia
Some drivers also find single track rural roads to be very challenging.
Weather conditions have a major impact on driving in the UK, especially in winter and when the clocks change in the autumn. New staff should be fully briefed with appropriate safety information.
Community Transport
Your recruit may find this section useful for themselves or their family but also to support those they will be working with.
Hampshire
Community First’s Transport services offer and manage bookable minibus services, Dial-a-Ride and Call & Go, in various locations across Hampshire for anyone whose access needs are not met by public transport services.
Their services are designed to be accessible for everyone, so your new recruit does not need to be registered disabled or use mobility aids to be eligible.
Community Transport – Community First (cfirst.org.uk)
Hampshire County Council passenger transport website gives useful information about public, community and voluntary transport.
Public and community transport (connecttosupporthampshire.org.uk)
The following link provides information on alternatives to public transport and includes community transport and other options for travelling around Hampshire.
Alternative transport (Hants.gov.uk)
You will find all you need about travelling around Hampshire by public transport on the following link. This will include everything from planning your journey by bus, coach or train, guides, timetables and maps and even show you in real time when your next bus may be arriving! The link covers all areas of Hampshire.
Public transport | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk)
In Hampshire people who have come from Ukraine can receive 12 weeks’ free bus travel from your local bus service by completing this form
Cycling
You will find routes and maps and much more across all areas of Hampshire in the following links
Welcome to Cycling in Hampshire – Cycling in Hampshire (visit-hampshire.co.uk)
Top 20 Bike Rides and Cycling Routes in Hampshire | Komoot
Cycling in Hampshire | Cycling UK
Portsmouth
Information on disabled persons bus passes in Portsmouth can be found here:
Disabled persons buss pass – portsmouth.gov.uk
You will find everything to do with getting around Portsmouth and public transport information on the Portsmouth City Council website links below. This covers taxi ranks and public transport routes.
Hackney carriage stands – portsmouth.gov.uk
Public transport map July 2023 – portsmouth.gov.uk
In addition, My Journey can help with travel choices, whether you’re looking for information about local cycle routes to work, walking maps or links to Portsmouth’s public transport network
Portsmouth bus routes are covered by two bus operators: Stagecoach and First Bus. Long-distance journeys coach operators National Express and Megabus operate from the coach and bus interchange at The Hard in Portsea, next to Portsmouth Harbour train station.
The Public Transport Map shows which buses to use for all three Portsmouth hospitals: Queen Alexandra, St Mary’s and St James’.
Quick links for getting out and about
Ferries and hovercraft information
Real Time Information for residents with visual impairments
Should you be looking for active transport, you will find both normal pedal and electric bikes offered at sites across Portsmouth. The link will tell you where to find them, the cost and how to use them Portsmouth | Beryl
You will find e-scooters run by Voi in the following links. People who live, visit, work or study in Portsmouth and want to try a more sustainable way to travel can hire a Voi rental e-scooter as part of a Department for Transport trial on Portsmouth’s roads and cycle routes.
To be eligible to ride a Voi e-scooter, users must be 18 years old and over and hold at least a provisional driving licence. The first time a rider rents an e-scooter they will be asked to scan their driving licence through the Voi app.
Rental e-scooter trial – Travel Portsmouth
e-scooter guide Portsmouth – voi.com
Cycling is very popular in Portsmouth since it is flat. You will find the most common cycling routes in the following links and note that all areas of Hampshire are covered.
https://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/
Top 20 Bike Rides and Cycling Routes around Portsmouth | Komoot
Portsmouth | Cycling guide with maps and routes | cycle.travel
Cycling in Portsmouth – Cycling in Hampshire (visit-hampshire.co.uk)
Southampton
You will find everything to do with getting around Southampton and public transport information on the Southampton Council website links below:
Travel and transport – Southampton.gov.uk
Information about disabled bus passes can be found here:
Southampton disabled bus passes – Southampton.gov.uk
You will find what you need to know with regard to parking and a map shows council owned and managed car parks and on-street car parking places in the following link
Find parking – Southampton.gov.uk
You can use the links below to find out more.
Getting around Southampton – Southampton.gov.uk
Travel around Southampton safely – Southampton.gov.uk
Should you be looking for active transport, you will find both normal pedal and electric bikes offered at sites across Southampton. This link will tell you where to find them, the cost and how to use them and there is also an app to download with all the information.
Cycling
Some links providing routes across Southampton and surrounding areas and linking other parts of Hampshire
Southampton cycle network – myjourneysouthampton.com
Southampton Common Walking and Cycle Route – gps-routes.co.uk
https://cycle.travel/city/southamptoncycle.travel/city/southampton
Isle of Wight
You will find everything from buying a parking permit (that covers the whole Island) to paying a parking fine, road safety, how to get around on public transport, bus routes and reporting road issues to someone.
Transport and parking (iow.gov.uk)
The English National Concessionary Travel Scheme enables eligible residents of the Isle of Wight to travel on local buses during off-peak times anywhere in England and at the times as detailed below on the island.
Concessionary Travel on the Isle of Wight – Iow.gov.uk
Should you be looking for more active transport, you will find electric bikes and scooters offered at sites on the Isle of Wight. These links will tell you where to find them, the cost and how to use them.
beryl bikes isle of wight – Search (bing.com)
beryl scooters isle of wight – Search (bing.com)
The Island has many cycle routes, and you will find most of them here.