Business leaders raise demand for eSafety

14 July 2010

Some of the UK’s leaders in fleet management are calling on their peers to keep up with technology and procure vehicles with the latest electronic safety devices.

The fleet management experts spoke in a debate at the eSafety Challenge 2010, organised by eSafetyAware, and supported by RoadSafe.

Steve Farmer, managing director of Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services,a Driving for Better Business champion said, “Ignoring safety is a false economy. The more sophisticated fleet vehicle buyers are not penny wise and pound foolish. If all fleets demanded eSafety, the manufacturers will deliver.

“It makes absolute perfect sense that if we can reduce accidents and injuries to our staff then that will deliver savings to the business.”

Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services, operates a fleet of about 8,500 vehicles. It aims to achieve “Zero Harm” to all employees, sub-contractors, and members of the public by 2012.

The Balfour Beatty Group identifies vehicles as one of the top risks currently facing the business, and says it will use eSafety technology to help achieve its “Zero Harm” target. The group already specifies that all its vehicles have ESC fitted.

In the debate, the panel noted that it could be harder for small to medium sized businesses to stay up to date.

Mike Waters, head of market insight at international fuel and fleet management company Arval, said, “SMEs often miss out on a lot of available information. It is very important that larger fleets, such as Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services, share their expertise.”