A HEALTH check of UK fleets has shown that, while many are implementing proper risk management policies, others could be leaving themselves open to prosecution if their at-work drivers are involved in a fatal accident.

A study of companies operating a combined fleet of more than 40,000 vehicles found that although the majority had undertaken a risk assessment of their at-work driving activities, 66 companies (41% of respondents) had not and 10 did not know.

It was carried out on customers and prospects of leasing company ALD Automotive. James Sutherland, managing director of ALD’s risk management partner Peak Performance, said: ‘The measures companies need to put in place to ensure they meet their obligations to employees who drive for work are not onerous but, as the ALD Automotive survey shows, a significant number are still burying their heads in the sand over this important issue.’

The survey found that two-thirds of companies check the driving licences/history of new drivers prior to employment, almost half (47%) undertake eyesight/medical checks on drivers, three-quarters keep a record of their drivers’ motoring offences and three-quarters keep records of drivers’ business mileage.

It also found that two-thirds of companies have a policy on driver hours and fatigue, 70% ask at-work drivers to carry out and record vehicle checks and 80% have a system in place for ensuring that vehicle manufacturer service schedules are kept up to date.

Results that highlight areas where fleets could make improvements include 63% of companies failing to carry out risk assessments on specific driving tasks, 61% failing to provide induction training for new drivers and 68% with no ongoing driver training programme.

ALD marketing director David Yates said: ‘In the event of an accident and police investigation, companies must be able to show that their fleet is operated along health and safety best practice lines.’