KWIK-FIT FLEET LAUNCHES MAJOR OCCUPATIONAL ROAD RISK MANAGEMENT SURVEY

1 May 2008

Safety-focused Kwik-Fit Fleet, Britain’s largest independent fast-fit company, is launching a major occupational road risk management survey in conjunction with the ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme.

The survey was officially launched at the Fleet Business Show at the Business Design Centre, London (April 29 and 30) and will soon be available online at www.kwik-fit.com/fleet and www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com.

The aim of the survey is to find out the actions that senior managers with responsibility for fleet operations and the use of privately-owned cars on business have taken to reduce their organisations’ risk exposure in the light of the implementation of this month’s Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act.

Mike Wise, head of Kwik-Fit Fleet, said: “The importance of companies managing occupational road risk has continued to increase in recent years. As a businesses we undertake hundreds of thousands of safety checks on vehicles and often find that cars and vans are not in tip-top condition.

“A failure by companies and their employees to ensure a vehicle’s safety-related equipment is in a first-class condition could be the difference between life and death.

“Tyre condition is clearly a critical issue, which is why Kwik-Fit Fleet introduced tyre safety checks many years ago and this year will carry out more than 250,000 inspections usually in company car parks.

“In addition, Kwik-Fit Fleet has introduced brake checks and carries out fluid level and glass inspections to ensure vehicles are safe.”

Adrian Walsh, director of RoadSafe, said: “Evidence suggests that the majority of companies in the UK, particularly SMEs, continue to turn a blind eye to their legal responsibilities under health and safety legislation to effectively manage their at-work drivers.

“By finding out from as many companies as possible exactly what at-work driving safety measures they have implemented and where weaknesses may lie, we can help them further improve their legal compliance.”

RoadSafe is a partnership of leading companies in the motor and transport industries in Britain, the Government and road safety professionals and is building partnerships to reduce deaths and injuries caused on the roads and promote safer road use.

Key to the Government’s strategy of cutting the 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at-work drivers is the Department for Transport’s ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme and its network of ‘business champions’, which have been recruited to spread the safety gospel across business sectors.

All fleet decision-makers who complete the survey will be entered into a draw with one lucky participant winning an all expenses paid weekend for two.

EDITOR’S NOTES

Kwik-Fit Fleet is part of the Kwik-Fit Group, owned by PAI, a leading European private equity firm with offices in Paris, London, Madrid and Milan. Kwik-Fit operates from almost 2,000 service points across Europe and includes Kwik-Fit Netherlands, Speedy in France and Pit-Stop in Germany. The company services the requirements of almost 7.5 million motorists a year and is Europe’s largest fast-fit services provider.

PAI manages and advises dedicated buyout funds, as well as the former BNP Paribas portfolio of direct investments, with an aggregate equity value of over €7 billion. PAI is characterised by its operational approach to ownership combined with industrial and sector expertise. PAI provides portfolio companies with the financial and strategic support required to pursue their development and enhance strategic value creation.

For further information contact:

Ashley Martin (telephone 01733 390691) or Arthur Dalziel (0121 445 6633)

AWD Communications Ltd.