News
Business Drivers Prove to be Costly Offenders
Lex Autolease reviewed almost 21,000 vehicles on its fleet to uncover how many drivers were offending behind the wheel. The good news is that the majority are one off law breakers with just one in 20 suffering from repeat offences.
However, Steve Osborne, the firm’s Head of Fleet Management points out: “Company car users cover 20,000 miles a year on average, so there’s a real need to see greater care being taken on the road.
“There is always room for improvement and firms have a duty of care to ensure they communicate and remind drivers of their responsibilities while travelling on company business. It’s a financial and safety priority.”
Lex Autolease’s research reveals that 45% of company drivers have been involved in a driving accident in the last year with almost 70% at fault and an average repair bill of £860.
As a result, vehicles are garaged for seven days and this doesn’t take account of any third party costs, such as hire car charges and lost working hours, which collectively can mount up to 20-50 times more than the repair.
Steve Osborne continues: “Driver training for repeat offenders and high milers can immeasurably improve a company’s safety record and bring down costs.”
Of the driving offences committed nearly 40% were speeding tickets and one in five were mobile phone incidents. This is despite companies being culpable, by law, if a hands-free phone contributed to an accident.
Steve Osborne concludes: “Speeding offences are notoriously difficult to tackle, but mobile phone policies are a must for all businesses and they must ensure that these are effectively communicated to drivers.
“Research shows that drivers are less aware of their surroundings and road signs in particular when using a phone. They also tend to tailgate and suffer from poor speed and lane discipline, so you can understand why many firms outright ban the use of mobiles. Even with hands-free kits.
“The law can be unclear at times, but we advise that drivers should only make or receive calls when their vehicle is stationary. It’s often the best practical solution.”
Top business tips for driver safety:
Ensure you promote a no blame culture
Consider awards or incentives for employees that demonstrate safe driving
Offer free driver training
Include work-related road safety in team meetings and staff appraisals
Lead by personal example
For further information on ways to improve driver training and drive down business costs, contact the Balance consultancy team at Lex Autolease on: 0800 085 4128.
