Corporate killing law helps drive road-risk message home

News | HSP
31.07.2008

New research has revealed that nearly 100% of fleet managers are aware of the potential impact of the corporate manslaughter legislation, and 86% of companies have policies in place to manage occupational road risk.

The survey of 97 fleets operating more than 250,000 cars and vans, carried out by the RoadSafe partnership and service provider Kwik-Fit Fleet, found that 64% of road-risk policies had been signed off at board-level.

Every company surveyed said they checked drivers' licences, and nearly two-thirds said they provided on-the-road and office-based driver training, with 42% conducting online assessments.

The survey revealed growing awareness of the need to manage the "grey" fleet - employees who drive their own cars on company business. Three-quarters of respondents said they asked for servicing paperwork, MOTs and insurance documents, and half let staff hire cars for business trips.

An overwhelming 95% of fleet managers said they had a mobile phone use policy, with 54% banning all phone use behind the wheel.

More than half (55%) cited legal implications as the main motivator for implementing at-work driving policies; 29% said there were moral reasons and 14% mentioned financial savings.