What is Duty of Care and Why is Managing Road Risk so Important for Business Fleets?
The facts
• Every week in the UK over 20 people are killed and 250 seriously injured in “at-work” road traffic
accidents (RoSPA). According to the government, “for the majority of people, the most dangerous
thing they do while at work is drive on the public highway” (HSE)
Legal responsibilities
• Under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, employers are instructed of their “duty to ensure so far as is reasonably practicable the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees”
Employer duty of care is reinforced by the corporate manslaughter offence under which companies can be prosecuted for deaths to drivers and other road users caused as a result of a work related journeys where negligence is proven
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• Road accidents result in awful human losses for families, friends and colleagues of drivers,
passengers and other road users and have a negative impact on the wider community
• Accidents, congestion and poor driving exacerbate the environmental impact of running fleets
Financial benefits
Better driving should lead to:
• Fewer accidents, with reduced repair costs and/or insurance premiums
• Lower fuel consumption
• Reduced maintenance costs, especially tyres and brakes
• Improved vehicle condition and performance at sale and/or reduced damage recharges
• Less vehicle rental expenditure
Typically fleets can expect a 15-20% reduction in fleet costs in the first year following the implementation of a risk management program.
Business advantages
Fewer accidents mean:
• Fewer lost business opportunities, deliveries, loads, customer complaints, etc.
• Less usage of temporary contract staff or overtime to cover staff absences
• Reduced risk of prosecution
• Less time spent on non-revenue generating activity e.g. accident related admin, investigation, etc
• Improved staff morale
• All of which also carry, albeit possibly less tangible, financial benefits
• Improved environmental and CSR record
• Potentially positive (and perhaps more importantly
avoidance of negative) PR
Arval specialises in fuel cards and contract hire.