Lex survey sees safety remain at the top of the fleet priority list

Health and safety issues are by far the most important facing company fleet managers over the next 12 months according to a new survey by Lex Vehicle Leasing.

Nearly half (48%) of fleets questioned put Health and Safety at the top of their list of concerns, followed by 32% who see vehicle running costs as the biggest issue in 2006.

Lex also asked fleets for the first time whether they felt that it is dangerous for company car drivers to be allowed to smoke in their company cars. More than three quarters (76.6%) said it was dangerous and that the Government should adopt similar legislation around smoking at the wheel as they have using a non-hands-free mobile phone.

Over 200 fleet managers, responsible for running over 50,000 vehicles, put Health and Safety at the top of their priority list for the fourth year running.

"Its good that so many companies realise that corporate liability is a real issue and one that is going to remain on the fleet agenda," said Jon Walden, Managing Director of Lex Vehicle Leasing.

"Our Momentum consultancy team in particular has been investing time and effort to look at ways of improving safety, at the same time controlling fleet costs," he added.

Surprisingly only 10% of fleets saw fuel prices being a major issue, even though the past 12 months, drivers have been paying up to £1.00 per litre of fuel. Residual values and legislation are joint fourth in the list, while speeding/speeding cameras, running a greener company car fleet, getting cash drivers back into company cars and advising drivers of company car tax bands were joint sixth.

The biggest mover in the list from 2005 to 2006 was residual values which went up the list from seventh to fourth, while fuel prices and running a greener company car fleet increased two places to third and sixth respectively.

This is the fourth annual survey Lex has undertaken into future concerns for vehicle fleet managers. It aims to give Lex and its colleagues a heads-up view on the major concerns facing companies over the coming 12 months.