1. ARE YOUR FLEET DRIVERS ARMED WITH THE CORRECT KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY?
On a driving course last week, a van driver for a large national distributer confirmed that his vehicle
had been fitted with GPS telematics technology that warned him when he was travelling over the
speed limit. Unfortunately, the system installed by the fleet manager had been calibrated for a private
car and every time the driver was on a single or dual carriageway at the National Speed Limit for cars
(60/70mph in a non-built up area) he was breaking the law. On these types of carriageways, the limit
for most light-commercial vehicles is 10mph below that of a car:
Vans, car-derived vans and dual-purpose vehicles
Most vans under 7.5 tonnes laden (loaded) weight, including Ford Transit vans:
-Have a lower speed limit than cars
-Must follow the speed limits for goods vehicles of the same weight
A vehicle qualifying as a ‘car-derived van’ or ‘dual-purpose vehicle’ has the same
speed limits as a car.
Source: DVLA - gov.uk/speed-limits
Telematics and technology overall, in vehicles used for commercial purposes, has improved
significantly over the last few years, with it’s use to aid risk management and benefit employee safety
is beginning to make a difference in the way insurers work with business to reduce premium spend.
Poorly administered systems, however, can in fact make you more vulnerable to risk exposure from
drivers earning penalty points to possible claims against your Director & Officers for negligence and a
lack of duty of care.
During National Road Safety Week why not invite your insurance broker to conduct a mid-term review
your fleets risk management programme – and if you’ve not got one in place then perhaps it’s time
you spoke with a broker who understands how to look after your business’s exposures and goes
beyond simply looking for the cheapest policy.
For more information about LOSS Insurance Services and what we can offer commercial fleet
policyholders please contact me today.
Paul Whiston
Senior Account Manager
LOSS Insurance Services Ltd
T: 01606 601 000
M: 07464 942270
E: paul.whiston@loss-insurance.co.uk