Fleet Monitor (LIVE)
Fleet Manager understand the risk

but their bosses don't!

The feedback from many fleet managers is that they ‘get it’ but that their bosses don’t see it as high priority. So what are the potential consequences for the business as a whole?

Today, the police treat the scene of a fatal road collision as an ‘unlawful killing’ and, if appropriate, may interview the employee, managers and directors. Under today’s legislation, if the company’s actions – or lack of them – is deemed to have contributed to the incident, company representatives may be charged with manslaughter.

As well as the personal risk and stress, the reputation of the company as a whole may be threatened. In today’s marketplace, ‘brand value’ can be a major competitive advantage and unlawful actions by an employee, both deliberate and accidental, can significantly affect this corporate asset.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 employers have a statutory duty - they are required – ‘ to carry out an assessment of the risks to the Health and Safety of their employees ’ and that ‘includes any driving activity on the road’ – see http://www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/employers.htm

Some businesses have opted out of offering the traditional company car to employees believing that moving to a cash-for-car, personal contract purchase scheme or employee car ownership scheme removes their Health and Safety responsibilities. It doesn’t.

Fact 1:Magazine giant IPC has removed its cash for car choice for high mileage drivers, citing fears that accidents involving badly maintained cars could leave the company open to corporate manslaughter charges.

Fact 2:A firm faced a £9 million damages bill after one of its drivers ran over a cyclist while using a mobile phone. The cyclist was left paralysed from the neck down and on a life support machine. The £9 million payout is thought to be the highest awarded to a British citizen by an English court.