The road map to a safer fleet has been revealed by Lex Vehicle Leasing and urges employers to stick rigidly to road safety inductions for all new employees in a bid to avoid unnecessary road accidents.
Inductions should include explaining the dangers of using mobile phones while driving and understanding the company's mobile phone policy, a reminder that regular breaks should be taken while driving long distances on company business and a warning never to drive while drowsy.
Potential drivers should also be told to read the company's risk management policy on driver safety and take part in any driver training the company runs. For company vans in a multi-driver environment, a sticker should be used in a prominent area to remind drivers that any dangerous driving on the road could be reported.
Jon Walden, managing director of Lex Vehicle Leasing, said: 'Companies should spend more time looking at how they can prevent their drivers from being involved in or causing accidents while driving.
'Not only will this help keep drivers safe, but it will also help protect the company from possible future repercussions from the corporate manslaughter legislation.'
The comments from Lex follow the announcement by the Independent Sentencing Advisory Panel which recommended that drivers who cause death on the road as a result of falling asleep at the wheel or using a hand-held mobile phone should be imprisoned for a minimum of two years.
The panel believes new guidelines will help sentencers to strike an appropriate balance between the level of role of the offender and the magnitude of the harm resulting from the offence.
Walden added: 'This Sentencing Advisory Panel's report should also be a wake-up call for all company motorists that if they do cause an accident they could pay the highest possible price.'
Induction process fact file The induction process should include:
Source: Lex Vehicle Leasing
Login to comment
Comments
No comments have been made yet.