2. • Under employment law the employer has a duty towards the employee and members of the public
who may be affected by their work activities. The employer is also "vicariously liable“ for the acts of their
employees.
• Because of their status as an employer, they may be liable for the injuries or death of employees, a worker from
another company on their premises or a member of the public injured by their employee.
• Where the employee drives recklessly or breaks speed limits it is the drivers' responsibility. Where speeding was due to
inappropriate scheduling of appointments by the employer, liability could be joint, i.e. they could both be prosecuted.
Key Action Points
- Produce a Health and Safety Policy, which includes your procedures to manage driver safety
- Ensure all licences are checked at least annually
- Regularly record maintenance and servicing details
- Record all training that has been completed
Duty of Care
3. • More people are killed in work related road accidents than in all other categories of occupational
deaths put together.
• Accurate reporting, recording and subsequent analysis is key to understanding how and why an event happened,
initiating future preventative measures.
• The driver's handbook should contain clear guidance about what to do and who to contact in the event of a motor
accident.
• The great majority of motor incidents involve human error and as such are avoidable. It is often the case that effective
management action could have prevented the occurrence altogether.
• Following every incident, the circumstances should be thoroughly investigated, recorded and the driver interviewed by
a manager.
Accident Investigation & Analysis
4. Driver
- Driver vetting and selection
- Induction procedures
- Licence checks
- Accident reporting procedures
Vehicle
- Vehicle suitability
- Vehicle maintenance and inspections
- Vehicle security
Journey
- Journey planning
- Managing driver fatigue
- Speed management
Three Key Areas to Risk Management
5. • A considerable number of businesses are not covering one or more of the four most important
risk management procedures:
- New driver vetting including licence checking
- Driver induction procedures
- Issuing a driver handbook
- Post incident investigations
• Driver induction is your opportunity to confirm health and safety policy, lines of communication and procedures.
• Staff induction should follow a documented programme including:
- Details of the company health and safety policy and arrangements
- Vehicle checks and restrictions, e.g. mobile phones, authorised drivers, driving and fatigue
- Guides on what to do in certain situations e.g. accidents, breakdown and reporting of defects
Driver Induction
7. • Vehicle crime continues to be a fact of life in modern society and there is every chance that you
or someone you know has been a victim of vehicle crime.
• Immobilisers and Alarms:
- Immobilisers prevent the engine from starting without the original key or transponder by isolating at least two of the operating
circuits.
- Alarms will deter opportunist thieves, both from stealing your vehicle and stealing from your vehicle.
• Most car crime can be prevented and therefore vehicle security and preventative measures should be uppermost in the minds of
the motoring public.
• If you own an expensive vehicle, you could enhance security further by adding a tracking device which meets with the Thatcham
Category 5 after Theft System Criteria. These systems mean that your vehicle's location can be recorded on a detailed mapping
system, enabling the vehicle to be located and recovered quickly following a theft.
• Overnight parking.
Vehicle Security
8. • Are you confident that you and your company's work schedules are realistic?
• Company prosecutions can be made where the enforcing authority considers that an accident
occurred due to pressure to complete unrealistic schedules.
Journey Scheduling
9. • Recognised road risk factors include the age and experience of the driver.
• The fewer individuals permitted to drive company vehicles, the more familiar they will be with the vehicle
characteristics and controls, resulting in safer journeys.
• Generally in Fleet insurance, driving will be restricted to those who are 25+ with a minimum of 2 years driving
experience.
Driving Restrictions
10. • At no stage should a driver admit responsibility or make a statement regarding the
incident (except to a police officer).
• A driver that fails to stop after an accident and fails to notify the other party or report the matter to the police, is likely
to face prosecution.
• Claims under the insurance policy ought to be intimated as soon as possible to minimise the consequences and to
contain fleet operating costs.
Incidents & Insurance
11. Deliberately Braking Suddenly for No Reason
- Keep Your Distance
Keeping a safe distance behind the car in front of you at all times should ensure you have adequate time to brake,
even if they stop suddenly.
The Flash for Cash
- Be Careful if People Flash You to Go
Even if somebody is flashing you to go, you should always exercise caution and pull away slowly. Be particularly careful if
there’s an obstruction on your side of the road, or if you’re pulling out of a side road.
The T-Bone Accident/The Swoop and Stop
- Don’t Get Distracted
It goes without saying that maintaining concentration at all times is essential for safe driving and should help you to avoid
all manner of accidents.
Staged Accidents and Precautions
12. • Implementing effective Risk Management procedures can influence your insurance premium,
as well as assist with the safety of employees, passengers and the wider public.
• Whilst premium is unlikely to alter immediately as a result of implementing new procedures, it can have a positive
impact on claims history.
• Dash cams
• Live trackers
• Checking full driving licenses – highlight license points, type of license
Risk Management & Insurance
