Business driver danger

The Fleet Safety Association welcomes the government’s recognition of the detrimental effect that road crashes involving those who drive for business purposes has on both society and commercial life in the UK.

The Fleet Safety Association, a trade body recognised by the both the Department for Transport and the Driving Standards Agency, represents the leading solution providers for the growing problem of road crashes involving so-called ‘occupational drivers’.

Association members work to a strict code of practice that effectively obliges them to provide relevant, cost-effective, appropriate and professionally deployed driver risk management programmes for customers in all sectors of commerce and industry.

The interventions on offer range from online risk assessments and E-Learning modules to all manner of practical driver training courses and seminars, and even extend to assisting with the formulation of policies and internal communications campaigns to ensure the complete buy in of the employees.

Almost without exception, the interventions provided by the members yield quantifiable results, both in human and financial terms. On-road incidents, with all their associated costs, drop dramatically, fuel consumption improves and the life of wear and tear items is extended. Employees become more confident, less stressed and even more productive as a result of the training, help and advice on offer. Even vehicle residual values improve, thanks mainly to the absence of crash damage but also to increased mechanical sympathy being applied.

If one includes potential insurance cost reductions as well, it is perfectly feasible for a driver risk management programme to be self-funding.

And of course the by-product of going this route is the much-reduced chance of falling foul of the law. If you have systems and procedures in place that demonstrate that you are managing your vehicle fleet as best practice dictates, then there is less chance of being non compliant with health and safety regulations and duty of care obligations.

All in all it's a win/win situation for any organisation grasping the nettle and going for a driver risk management programme, so long as it is with suppliers that can be trusted to deliver.

Additional information on the Fleet Safety Association can be obtained from the website:
fleetsafetyassociation.co.uk.