Pressure is mounting on Britain’s daily rental companies to include roadside assistance and motoring first aid kits in all vehicles.

The campaign is led by motor accessory supplier, vGroup International - with a number of contract hire and leasing companies now backing its call.

Martyn Nash, chairman of vGroup International, said: “Fleets typically expect a rental vehicle to be a like-for-like temporary replacement for a leased vehicle. That should also include key accessories, to protect the employee.”

Scott Holland, head of operations at Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, said: “Hitachi includes a standard safety pack in all leased vehicles to ensure drivers are equipped with at least the basic roadside assistance in the unfortunate event of an accident or breakdown.

“I feel that this element is missing from the rental providers and that this needs to be addressed as part of their proposition to lease providers.”

Richard Jordan, Alphabet supplier relationship manager, said: “It is becoming increasingly important to provide such safety elements as part of the duty of care to drivers, and we are being asked by fleet managers more and more for such items.”

A standard vGroup roadside assistance kit includes health and safety elements: warning triangle, hi-visibility jacket, first aid kit, torch, life hammer, foil blanket and tyre service kit.