Fleet Companies Beware!

Up to a third of all road traffic incidents – 1000 fatalities alone – may involve someone who is at work at the time.– this is quite an alarming statistic.*

The Health and Safety Executive advise that employers, managers or supervisors with staff have the same duty of care when they are driving, or riding a cycle or motorcycle at work, as they do when an employee is on the premises.

This duty of care should go above and beyond the simple road worthiness of vehicles and applies to on the road activities. Some employers believe, incorrectly, that complying with certain road traffic law requirements e.g. company vehicles have a valid MOT Certificate, and that drivers hold a valid driving licence is enough to ensure the safety of their employees, and others, when they are on the road.

You need to consider what steps you should take to ensure that your employees use the road as safely as possible.  It’s important to have a safe driving policy so that your employees are clear on where you stand as an employer with regard to road safety.

Taking road safety seriously as an employee should help reduce insurance costs for your business car insurance or motor fleet insurance.

* Reducing at-work road traffic incidents. © Crown copyright 2001 Health and Safety Commission

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v1.0

Last reviewed 7/11/2011

To talk to an expert in your area and get a quote, contact your local insurance broker.