Government safety guidelines for driving at work send an important message to fleet opreators, but they need a legal framework, says Mark Keavney
The Recent Driving at work - managing work-related road safety guidelines published by the Department for Transport (DfT), have started to pave the way towards combating the rising problem of road safety, with specific reference to motor fleets.The government has made no secret of the fact that it is waiting for a legal scapegoat to hammer home its new tougher stance aimed at combating the appalling record of fleet drivers.And with about a third of all road traffic accidents involving somebody who is at work at the time - accounting for up to 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries per week - the wait is not likely to be long.Despite a range of initiatives introduced to combat the issue of work-related road accidents, figures have not improved. Since the introduction of the congestion charge, designed to calm traffic in gridlocked central London, accident rates have shot up 23% just outside the zone, probably caused by drivers finding themselves on unfamiliar roads while trying to avoid payment.
Legal cloutThe new guidelines recommended by the government's task group are not regulations, nor an approved code of practice with legal clout, but merely notes on good practice. While they provide a useful checklist for fleet operators to help develop a risk management strategy, the only way to force businesses to act is by law.The government will need to drive through new legislation and actively support this through a cash injection into initiatives such as driver training and risk assessment as well as raising awareness among businesses on vehicle-related health and safety.In many organisations, a sea change in work-related driving practice will be needed to eradicate the culture of stress, tiredness, time pressure and high mileage prevalent in the UK. Fleet managers need to ensure that attention-demanding car-bound tasks such as mobile phone conversations, for example, are discouraged. From 1 December 2003, anyone caught using a hand-held mobile phone while on the road will face an on-the-spot £30 fine, which increases to £1,000 if the matter goes to court.According to the DfT report Behavioural research in road safety, about half of all the company car drivers polled admitted to driving under time pressure to reach their destination and undertaking long journeys after a full day's work. Private motorists suffered very few of the same problems on a regular basis, with time pressure affecting only 14% and long journeys just 4%.This is a sector where brokers can take the initiative in promoting good fleet risk management. Most companies have a health and safety policy in place - it just needs to be extended to cover their fleet drivers out on the road.Fleet managers who can demonstrate they are taking the matter seriously with a proper fleet health and safety policy in place are likely to receive the most leniency in case of an incident - both from the courts and the insurance industry.And with the UK's compensation culture threatening to rage out of control, fleet operators would be well advised to arm themselves against the threat of legal action by demonstrating they have taken clear steps to improve the health and safety of their drivers.
Safe practiceThe practices recommended by the report should be used as evidence by businesses to demonstrate they are correctly exercising their duty of care to employees driving a vehicle in the course of their employmentIf, for example, a driver covers 40,000 company miles a year, he should be given a vehicle suited for long-haul motorway cruising. If he loads and unloads heavy kit, a vehicle built for ease of access should be provided.Drivers should be trained to check tyre pressure and oil levels and spot checks should be carried out to make sure this is happening.Investing in the latest in telematics is one way to curb reckless or unsafe driving. The latest device allows a fleet operator to pinpoint at any time where one of his cars is, how fast it's going and how long it's been on the road. This is managed by an on-board computer system which transmits information back to a base station.Fleet managers should ensure they have a copy of every driver's driving licence and every driver should have a copy of the company's fleet car policy and practices. An internal inquiry should follow any accident in order to implement a policy of continuous improvement - and aim to prevent any more occurring.
