Norwich Union launches single package to help tackle driver safety

Norwich Union has launched the first single, effective answer to fleet insurance - giving fleet managers the ability to manage their risk more effectively and comply with their duty of care obligations.

Using telematic devices, provided free of charge, which feed data to Norwich Union via satellite, Fleetwise Care will enable fleets to obtain comprehensive duty of care reports. These provide information about driver behaviour, including journey times, types and mileage covered, coupled with claims information.

The information will help fleet managers to identify where the potential risks are in their fleet, review individuals’ driving performance, develop ways of improving overall risk management to enable them to comply with their duty of care responsibility thus keeping vehicles on the road and their drivers safe.

Mark Hynes, director of trading at Norwich Union, says: “Regardless of how well fleet managers think they know their drivers, they can’t be everywhere at once. And with almost a third of UK road deaths involving company car drivers¹, they clearly need to know what their drivers are doing behind the wheel.

“Businesses have a duty of care responsibility under the law² to protect others from harm, which includes managing the safety and welfare of their drivers. The duty of care reports will give the fleet operator a window on this previously ‘unknown’ information, leading to a meaningful conversation with their drivers where specific instances have been pinpointed based on information provided.”

Alongside the telematics devices - installed and maintained free of charge – and the duty of care reporting, Fleetwise Care provides risk management advice from Norwich Union.

This involves dedicated risk advisers working both on-site and via telephone to help companies minimise potential problems. In addition, fleet managers can use Norwich Union’s online Roadsense risk management tool kit, which gives expertise and guidance and a range of usable documents aimed at the three key risk management areas of the driver, vehicle and journey.

Fleets using Fleetwise Care receive two years’ fixed premium rates, designed for car, van and truck fleets with 25-plus vehicles.

With figures from the Department of Transport revealing a quarter of all crashes involve vehicles being driven for work-related reasons³ another key feature of the telematics device is the direct claims reporting button. This enables the driver to immediately report incidents to Norwich Union’s 24-hour Fleetline claims line and Norwich Union’s approved repairer network and third party care team.