Study Shows Accident Dangers

Fleet managers are failing to take steps to reduce the chance of accidents, exposing themselves and others to potentially fatal risks, research has found.

Insurance company Aviva conducted a study of 1,400 fleet managers' changing approaches to occupational road risk in the past three years, and found that some areas of duty of care management were not being met.

Areas of concern included the back-checking of a new driver's accident history and inquiries over a driver's eyesight.

It was found that just over half of all managers checked for the details of prospective employee's accident history, a figure unchanged from three years ago.

Steve Shirley, Aviva's commercial motor risk manager, said: "Especially in view of the intensified competition for jobs, fleet managers would be very well advised to check driver history, validate where possible and not be persuaded to take a driver's word for it."

The study also showed that only 13% of fleet managers inquire about a driver's eyesight at the pre-employment stage - down 14% from 2005.

Mr Shirley said: "Given the crucial importance of good driver eyesight, fleet managers should check and monitor their drivers' vision as they would any other high risk."

Copyright © Press Association 2009

David Urpeth from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: “Companies who require people to drive as part of their employment need to understand that the driving risks need to be assessed like any other risks faced by employees at work.

“This latest research is of concern and I fear that this may lead to an increase in people suffering injury or death in a road traffic accident at work.”