Avis Business Solutions helps fleets comply with duty of care

The new Avis Business Solutions rental service helps companies of all sizes fulfill their “Driving for Work” Duty of Care responsibilities.

The vehicle an employee drives while on business is now regarded as a place of work, making employers just as responsible for their staff’s safety on the road as in company premises. This legislation applies whether the employee is driving a company vehicle or their own car. Few small or medium sized businesses can sustain a fleet to cover every eventuality, which is where short and long-term rental plays an important role.

Avis Business Solutions brings together several Avis business vehicle hire services under one new name, giving companies a one-stop shop to suit all their business rental requirements and help them comply with the existing and forthcoming Duty of Care legislation. Avis Business Solutions includes long-term rental (formerly known as Maxi-rent), short-term hire (formerly Avis Advance), prestige rentals and van rentals.

Customers can choose from a wide range of vehicles to meet their specific needs, and Avis undertakes essential checks, giving the employer peace of mind that their staff member is as safe as possible.

Avis checks every renter’s driving licence, conducts a 59-point safety check to ensure that each vehicle is roadworthy, can provide an in-car guide to explain key controls for specific makes and models, and insures all vehicles to the appropriate level. And Avis does this whether a business hires cars once a year or 20 times a month, and for one day, one month or six months.

Across the UK and Europe, Avis Business Solutions can fit the bill. However frequently they use the service, companies benefit from low corporate rates, highly efficient service, dedicated account managers and a reward scheme. This flexible service gives them access to a vast range of all types of vehicles, including hatchbacks, family cars, small vans, minibuses, 7.5 tonne vans, luxury four-wheel drives and sports cars.

Roger Grainger, Sales Director, Avis UK, said, “Some 25% of all vehicle miles covered on Britain’s roads are driven by those travelling on business, and every week around 200 road deaths and serious injuries involve someone driving for work. While the human cost is the most important, there is also a high financial price to pay - in 2000 the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimated the costs to employers arising from ‘at-work’ road traffic accidents to be in the region of £2.7 billion per annum.

“It makes very good sense to extend Duty of Care legislation to cover employees driving on business, but complying with that legislation can put a real strain on small and medium sized companies, particularly those that require employees to use their own cars for business purposes. Avis Business Solutions is not simply a new name for existing products, but a comprehensive service that takes the strain off businesses’ shoulders, giving companies of all sizes a cost-effective, practical solution.”