AVIS is launching new in-car user and safety guides aimed at improving the safety of its business customers as part of Road Safety Week, which begins on Monday.

The guides will provide drivers with information on the safety features of their rental car, as well as important safe driving tips from Brake, the road safety charity.

Avis is a corporate partner of Brake and the safety guides include the 12 safety tips that make up the Brake 'drive safely' pledge:-

  • Belt Up front and back and ensure children are correctly restrained
  • Move Up head restraints to no lower than the top of your head
  • Slow Up abide by limits and only overtake if totally safe
  • Back Up from the vehicle in front - it's your braking space in a crisis
  • Buck Up calm yourself before driving if stressed, angry or excited
  • Sober Up "just say no" to alcohol and drugs
  • Shut Up put your phone on message service
  • Wise Up if it's night, bright, or bad weather, go slower
  • Wake Up take breaks every two hours on a long journey
  • Sharpen Up wear glasses or lenses if you need them
  • Look Up look out for people on bikes, horses and foot
  • Check Up check you know where everything is, familiarize yourself with the rental car

    By the end of this year every model of the Avis rental fleet will have a dedicated in-car user and safety guide that will include tips on getting to know Avis cars. This will include a diagram of dashboard instruments and answers to frequently asked questions such as 'How do I lock the doors, use the child locks, change the spare tyre?'

    As part of Avis' on-going commitment to safety best in class vehicles for safety have been added to its fleet, such as the Volvo S80 and V70. Also, a 39-point check is carried out on each vehicle before it is given to a driver. The check includes key areas such as brakes, tyres, windscreen wipers and oil.

    'Avis understands that businesses are under increasing pressure to ensure the health and safety of their company car drivers. We work closely with Brake to improve road safety for our customers," said Sarah Oglethorpe, Avis' head of retail sales.