Employers at risk over ‘own car’ fleet drivers
OVER a third of UK employers may be leaving themselves exposed to potential health and safety pitfalls by encouraging staff to use their private cars for business...
A survey conducted by Europcar found that 37% of companies offered cash for car schemes and almost one in six companies (15%) said they operated 100% cash for car fleets.
Over 300 businesses took part in the survey, which found that almost 25,000 company car drivers had opted to take cash and use their own vehicle for business purposes.
And it is this ‘grey fleet’ that could be storing up unexpected trouble according to David McNeill, corporate sales director for Europcar.
He said: “Transport has got to be straightforward and costeffective and so it’s easy to see why many businesses encourage staff to use private vehicles for business, or offer cash for cars.
“The problem with this is that a vehicle used for business travel, even for the occasional office errand, is regarded as a place of work and is therefore subject to all the same health and safety legislation that applies to the workplace.”
That includes the new Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act, which means companies and organisations can be found guilty of corporate killing on the basis of gross corporate failures in health and safety.
Mr McNeill added: “Older cars clearly score less highly on safety than newer ones. So it is not surprising many businesses are recognising this issue and are turning to vehicle rental to give them the peace of mind that staff are driving safe, reliable vehicles covered by roadside assistance.
“With the new Corporate Manslaughter legislation, businesses need to act quickly to ensure they have the policies in place that will protect their employees and their businesses from the consequences of an accident. Vehicle rental plays a crucial role in supporting fleet safety. It takes away the need to check employees’ private vehicles are suitable for business use, or that pool fleets are being properly maintained. While vehicle rental is not the sole solution, at Europcar, we believe it should be a key element of a risk management strategy.”
Concern over the safety of employees who use their own cars on business has prompted multimarque fleet funding company Alphabet to update and reissue a free guide to avoiding common hazards and mistakes on the road. ‘Drive Alive: Arrive Alert’ is available from Alphabet on 0870 50 50 100 or by visiting www.alphabet.co.uk