Study: Quarter of firms ‘don’t undertake regular safety checks’ on vehicle fleets

Regular safety checks on vehicle fleets are not being conducted by a quarter of businesses, research has claimed.

The study by TomTom Telematics, which surveyed senior managers at 400 UK-based firms, also found only 43% checked license and insurance documentation more than once every six months.

But on a positive note, 89% of managers did check driver documentation, regardless of time period.

Some 15% of respondents said organisations only checked documentation when a new employee joined – and did not schedule follow-up checks.

Beverley Wise, the UK & Ireland director at TomTom Telematics, said: “Ensuring vehicles and drivers are roadworthy is a fundamental requirement for any organisation that expects employees to drive for business purposes.

“If organisations are to safeguard employees and protect themselves from risk, it is important to have comprehensive systems in place not only for ensuring checks are conducted frequently but also to ensure findings are properly recorded and acted upon where necessary.”

Manual checks

There was also a lack of technology involved in safety checks on vehicles. Three-fifths of those surveyed, who check driver documentation, still do it manually – with the remainder conducting electronic checks.

In the specific case of companies operating grey fleets – vehicles owned by employees but used for business purposes – 21% do not conduct any checks on drivers’ insurance documentation.

Wise added: “Since the paper counterpart to the photocard licence was abolished more than two years ago, endorsements and disqualifications have only been recorded electronically.

“Therefore, businesses should strongly consider moving from manual to electronic checks to ensure they are building a more comprehensive picture on driver risk.”

Driving for Better Safety - Free eBook download

This eBook will guide you through some of the key understandings you need to be able to manage driver safety effectively and, at the end, provide a series of free resources you can access to help you ensure your own driver safety management system is robust, legally compliant and in line with industry-accepted good practice.

Download this eBook from Driving for Better Business and SHP to cover:

• Why do we need to manage driver safety?
• Duty of care – a shared responsibility;
• Setting the rules with a driving for work policy;
• Managing driver safety;
• Ensuring safe vehicles;
• Safe journeys and fitness to drive;
• Record keeping;
• Reporting;
• The business benefits of good practice;
• Additional resources

Download Now