Legislation fails to bring change

In a new white paper IAM RoadSmart highlights failure of Corporate Manslaughter and Homicide Act to bring companies to account for their road safety performance.

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act came into force in April 2008, setting the scene for increased levels of corporate responsibility, and focusing the minds of employers on the issue of workplace safety. The new legislation looked set to bring about improvements in corporate due diligence across all areas of occupational Health & Safety, including heightening the need for robust fleet risk management strategies, to ensure the safety of individuals who drive for work and to minimise their risk to the general public. Ten years have now passed since the introduction of the Act. This white paper examines whether it has had the desired effect on driver safety in the corporate fleet sector.

The corporate manslaughter laws may apply but as evidence of neglect is hard to prove, they are rarely used and so are ineffective. This is why there is a need for a business-to-business outreach programme to promote the business benefits of managing this aspect of operations.  The Driving For Better Business programme does just this. With no effective sanction in place, at least DfBB’s model shows by good example what works well and how business efficiency can be improved through better driving.

You may download the white paper here.