Fleet operators outside safety laws

A new benchmarking website for fleet managers has revealed that more than one third (35%) of fleet operators do not fully comply with all relevant corporate and regulatory requirements relating to fleet safety.

Launched in April 2007, more than 170 fleet managers have signed up to the Fleet Safety Benchmarking project and undertaken the 10 question Fleet Safety Audit available there . The project is run by the Fleet Safety Forum, a division of road safety charity Brake, in partnership with risk management specialists Interactive Driving Systems. Funded by the Department for Transport, it allows companies to anonymously compare their fleet safety procedures and crash data with that of other companies, to help them identify potentially life-saving improvements.

Other statistics from the Fleet Safety Benchmarking website reveal that:

Only 47% of companies had a comprehensively written, signed, and dated Safety, Health and Environmental Management policy (SHEM), which includes clear objectives and a commitment to improving driver safety performance.

Just 44% of companies optimised work schedules and travel requirements to minimise road risks and to encourage compliance with speed limits, working time regulations, road safety laws and to avoid the times of day when falling asleep at the wheel is most likely (2am to 6am and 2pm to 4pm).

Only 54% of companies gave all new employees a formal induction which covered policy, equipment familiarisation, collision and fuel reporting, emergency procedures, vehicle checking/maintenance and the importance of safety for brand reputation.

Only 58% of companies had a system in place to maintain driver records, including medical/health information, reference and licence checks, training records and qualifications, collision history and fuel efficiency.

Fleet operators are being urged to sign up free of charge to benchmark their driver safety by logging on to fleetsafetybenchmarking.net

Crash analysis, risk audits and benchmarking are crucial to effectively manage road risk, helping companies assess their fleet safety processes and policies and identify potential improvements. The benchmarking website can help fleet managers to:

carry out effective self-audits relating to their fleet safety policies and procedures

anonymously benchmark their company’s crash data and safety standards with other organisations

network with other fleet managers.

Anyone with responsibility for a company fleet of any vehicle type can benefit from the project, as long as they have at least 20 drivers or vehicles that are used for work purposes (whether the vehicles are owned by the company or employees).

By logging on to the project website fleetsafetybenchmarking.net fleet managers can straight away:

find out why crash analysis and benchmarking is so important to running a safe fleet

access best practice case studies about other fleet operators

download a free guidance sheet by the Fleet Safety Forum on Reporting and Recording Crash Data

complete a quick 10-question self-audit to identify any gaps in their fleet safety processes and policies

Once companies have signed up to the Fleet Safety Benchmarking Group, they are issued with a username and password, enabling them to access a password-restricted part of the website. This part of the website includes a benchmarking form, enabling companies to anonymously compare crash data and safety procedures with other companies, conduct 30 question or 168 question self-audits,enabling them to assess the safety of their drivers, vehicles, journeys and management policies, and identify potential improvements. They will also be invited to seminars to share ideas and best practice and network with other fleet managers.

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, says : “It is alarming just how many companies are failing to lay down basic safety precautions. Brake hopes that the Benchmarking website will highlight areas of concern for companies and enable them to keep up with best fleet safety practice. If you have not used the website yet please sign up today for free.”

Dr Will Murray, research director at Interactive Driving Systems, says : “ Although many companies who completed the audit were moving towards setting up the necessary procedures, the results show a worrying state of fleet safety in the UK. It is vital that fleet managers are aware of best practice fleet safety in order to improve work-related road safety programs, procedures and processes in organisations. For this reason we are encouraging as many organisations as possible to take part. ”

Companies that manage road risk benefit from:

reducing company crashes

fulfilling their legal duty of care to employees and communities in which they operate

improving staff morale and reducing staff turnover and sick-leave

reducing costs from vehicle and staff down-time, repairs, loss of business and increased insurance premiums

developing a reputation as a company that cares about its workforce, local communities and providing a quality service to customers