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Fleet drivers practise a high-risk activity and the cost to companies when managers fail in their duty of care can be considerable.
Road accidents involving company fleet drivers over the last few years have led to a burgeoning number of calls, especially from unions, for new corporate manslaughter legislation.
The government has listened and, after recognising the inadequacies of current common law on this issue, has finally acted producing the recently published Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill. In the wake of this, companies and their fleet managers need to take resolute steps to minimise occupational road risk.
Duty of care is already an essential board issue due to current Health & Safety legislation and regulations such as the Working Time Directive, but despite this, it seems that many businesses have failed to recognise the dangers of not implementing a road risk reduction programme.
This latest bill willmake it easier to prosecute companies and public sector organisations where gross negligence leads to death. Companies using Navman telematics technology however have the information at their fingertips to successfully manage road risk.
More than 3,000 people die in road collisions every year and estimates suggest that a third of all accidents involve at-work drivers. This is a remarkable statistic when consideration is given to the fact that out of 30 million vehicles on British roads, the commercial count is only a little over three and a half million. Future failings however by senior managers that lead to a death could result in unlimited fines, and the stigma that results from a corporate manslaughter conviction under the new law could prove even more damaging.
Navman's telematics system offers the opportunity for effective risk management support. The technology isn't simply a means of saving money by cutting fuel bills and increasing efficiency, it will also save lives.
Real time evaluation of drivers can identify those who are a danger to themselves and other road users behind the wheel. Managers can asses risk by running off speed analysis reports at the touch of a button.
A few months ago, a landmark court ruling led to a Cambridge-based catering company being fined £30,000 after an employee died behind the wheel of a car - he had worked 76 hours over four days. The need for companies to adhere to a strict policy working hours and miles driven per day is vital and a wealth of driver and vehicle information is available via Navman's OnLineAVL software to help companies do this.
For more information on how to utilise Navman vehicle tracking to help comply with current UK legislation call ETS on 0870 428 6268
For further information on Road Transport (Working Time) Regulations, visit:
www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/freight/road/workingtime/rdtransportworkingtimeguidance
For further information on the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Bill, visit:
http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/cons-2005-corporate-manslaughter/?version=1
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