Concerns have been raised that a third of fleet operators are failing to meet their safety obligations to drivers.

The findings come from a benchmarking website launched in April 2007 that has analysed results from 170 fleet managers so far.

The Fleet Safety Benchmarking project is run by the Fleet Safety Forum, a division of road safety charity Brake, in partnership with risk management company Interactive Driving Systems.

It is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and allows companies to anonymously compare their fleet safety procedures and crash data with other companies.

Statistics generated by the site reveal that only 47% of companies have a Safety, Health and Environmental Management policy (SHEM) and only 44% are optimising work schedules and travel requirements to minimise road risks and encourage drivers to keep within the speed limit.

Only 58% had a system to maintain driver records.

Dr Will Murray, research director at Interactive Driving Systems, said: “Although many companies were moving towards setting up the necessary procedures, the results show a worrying state of fleet safety in the UK.

“It is vital that fleet managers are aware of best practice fleet safety in order to improve work-related road safety programs, procedures and processes in organisations.”

Jools Townsend, head of education at Brake, echoed Dr Murray’s concerns, adding: “It is alarming just how many companies are failing to lay down basic safety precautions. Brake hopes the benchmarking website will highlight areas of concern for companies and enable them to keep up with the best fleet safety practice.”

Fleets can sign up free of charge to benchmark their driver safety by logging on to www.fleetsafetybenchmarking.net.