Presented by

Simon Protano FinstSMM DSA ADI

National Business Manager

3rd April 2007

IOSHMerseyside Branch

Presentation to

Driving on Company Business

The Law

• Health and Safety law focuses primarily (but not exclusively) on the duties of employers to establish safe systems of work. Key duties include undertaking risk assessments and having in place H&S management systems to ensure safe systems of work. The HSE Guide, "Driving at Work" makes it clear that "health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities and the risks should be effectively managed within a health and safety system".

Two sets of law apply to work-related road safety.

•Many company car drivers cover a lot of miles so it is important to introduce safe driving policies to protect them and other road users. Employers should assess occupational road risk in the same way as they would other workplace risks to health and safety and manage the risks involved.

Balance of ResponsibilityWork related road safety is a shared responsibility

between employer and employee.

• Road Traffic law is concerned mainly with individual driver behaviour and the vehicle owner.

• The threat of employers being prosecuted for road accidents involving their employees is now more likely as official records are kept of work-related road crashes.

• Road Traffic Act 1988 - Employers Duty of Care - Using, Causing or Permitting

• Corporate manslaughter

Why is there a spotlight on this issue?

Work related crashes account for one third of all accidents and cause 20 fatalities and 250 serious injuries per week

What do you need to do?

VehicleVehicleVehicleVehicle

DriverDriver

JourneyJourney

Vehicle

Corporate Social Responsibility

Does the vehicle protect the occupant and other road users?

NCAP RatingNCAP Rating

TYRE ChecksTYRE ChecksShould Managers conduct periodic checks?

PerformanceAgree minimum standards

Equivalent to those for company vehicles

Vehicle

Private/CompanyRemember that by adopting a “cash for cars” policy does not absolve employers from their Duty of Care

Occasional Own Car Use

Specify a maximum distance e.g. 100 mile return trip

Consider using a hire car?

Vehicle

Insurance / MOT / VEDRemember it is an offence under Road Traffic Act to “cause or permit” a person to drive a vehicle that is in a dangerous condition or without valid insurance

3 Types of Business Insurance:-Class1 pre-arrange appointment i.e. doctor

Class 2 Other employees to drive private car Class 3 Travel to different locations & money to gain i.e. Sales people

• Yearly checks • Spot checks

Vehicle

How often are checks?

Licence checksLicence checks

Driver

Line Manager Checks

DVLA Checks

Checks should be carried out every ? months

Only 54% employers check licence validity

MedicalMedical

Eye SightEye Sight

Driver

64% of drivers not offered basic eyesight check

70% of drivers said they were not offered any sort of medical check

AssessmentAssessment

Driver

TrainingTraining

Driver75% of Employers offer no risk assessment or training

More Skillful Driving forceImproved Economy - around 5%

Less Downtime for maintenance & repairsReduced Accident Related Costs

Reduced Insurance PremiumsImproved Company Image

Reduced wear & tear - clutches, tyres and brakesAdded Protection from Litigation

Accident investigationAccident investigation

Who’s Fault is it any way?

Condition of vehicle

Driver Error

Can you prevent repeat occurrences

Driver

Driving hoursDriving hours

Journey

Set Clear In-House limits for unbroken driving hours

No driver should be required to drive continuously for more

than ? hours

Time of dayTime of dayThousands of crashes are caused by tired drivers.

They are most likely to happen:

•Monotonous roads - such as Motorways

•Between 2am and 6am

•After having less than normal sleep

•After drinking Alcohol

•If taking Medicines

Journey

PlanningPlanningConsider is the journey really necessaryConsider is the journey really necessary?

Travel by TrainTravel by Train

Travel by PlaneTravel by Plane

Video ConferencingVideo Conferencing

Journey

The least popular (but potentially most effective) method to improve the safety of corporate drivers would be to make fleet managers more personally liable, as more than two thirds of fleet managers said they would do more to improve safety if they were personally liable.

SaFEDSaFED – Government Funded Training

Driver CPCDriver CPC – 2008 PCV & 2009 LGV

Future Safety Initiatives…

IAM Fleet is committed to reducing this fact and is therefore proud to announce that if a half-day On-Road Training Session a further Half Day will be offered for ONLY £60 + vat for up to 2 delegates under 25 years of age.

Young Driver Development Course…

Young drivers are twice as likely to die in a road crash when carrying passengers of their own age with one young passenger making an accident twice as likely, two or more making it five times as likely.

Thank You For Your TimeThank You For Your Time

Please Feel To Ask Any QuestionPlease Feel To Ask Any Question

Please Have A Safe JourneyPlease Have A Safe Journey

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