The UK is leading the way when it comes to fleet duty of care.

Cfc solutions says Government moves over the last few years mean risk management has been given a high priority not being mirrored on the Continent.

"It is clear to us that the UK has taken a definite lead in this area,” said business leader Andy Leech.

"Nowhere else is risk management being taken so seriously and integrated into the daily running of fleets. In fact, in some European countries there is almost zero awareness of the issues involved and the management action that should be taken.

"It is difficult to think of another area of fleet management where there is such a wide disparity between countries. In the UK, risk management is one of the two or three most important issues facing fleets - elsewhere it is a phrase that is almost unknown."

This current trend could cause serious issues for some pan-European fleets where directors of a company at a European level did not "buy in" to UK duty of care.

"One of the things that we learned in the UK is that risk management only works if there is commitment at board level,” said Mr Leech.

“This is sometimes difficult to achieve in the UK and if a company has a European board it is doubly so. Directors who are removed from the UK fleet experience often don't see the need to take the issue seriously."