What is Fleet Training?

Fleet Training is primarily aimed at qualified drivers who drive as part of their job, company representatives, van drivers etc. Its purpose is to train drivers to be more aware of hazards, operate the vehicle in a more environmentally friendly manner (that cuts costs too) and be a bit more professional in the way they represent the company they, well, represent. How many times have you seen a van or car with logos on it do something stupid or illegal on the roads? Not enough fingers? That person represents the company advertised in those logos. Now let's say that act put you or your family at risk, now how do you feel about that company?

How do people feel about yours?

The Corporate Manslaughter Act: The old version  if a company employee committed an act that put themselves or others in danger or actually did cause injury or damage, the law focused on them.

The new Corporate Manslaughter Act became law on the 6th April 2008. It will affect every organization, manager and driver who uses a car for business purposes. Many companies, fleet decision makers and business drivers remain confused as to their obligations under the law, what they can and can't do and how they may fall foul of these new rules.

Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 The Offence: 

• A corporation, government department, police force, partnership, trade union and employer association is subject to the new law, 
• It will focus on senior management failures either individually or collectively,
• Will require the organisation to owe a duty of care to the victim,
• Will require evidence that the management failure amounts to a gross breach of duty to take reasonable care, such evidence being breaches of health and safety legislation or guidance.

 When will a duty be owed?

• As an employer to employees, for example a fleet operator to its drivers,
• As an employer to the victims of their employees, i.e. passengers, other drivers or pedestrians,
• As occupiers of land such for example as an employee's place of work or somewhere the public has access,
• When supplying goods or when engaged in a commercial activity,
• Where the organisation is responsible for a persons safety.

Risk Assessment: 

• 8 million people drive on company business every day
• 250 of them are seriously injured every week
• 20 employees die every week

Out of some 3,400 fatal road casualties occurring in Great Britain every year, between 800 and 1,000 involve people or vehicles which are on the road for work purposes, that's to say about 1 in 3 people injured or killed on the roads were at work at the time. This makes work related road accidents the biggest single safety issue for most UK businesses. In fact, car and van drivers who cover 25,000 miles a year as part of their job are at greater risk of being killed at work than those working in construction or agriculture. The number of work related fatalities in 2005/06 amounted to 1214. Fleet training allows the ability of a driver to be assessed and any potential risks addressed.

Mobile phones are a major problem, at the end of the 80's less than 1% of the UK population had a mobile phone, now more that 75% of the population has at least one. Research by the TRL (Transport Research Laboratory) shows that using a hand-held or hands-free mobile phone while driving is a significant distraction, drivers who use a mobile phone, whether hand-held or hands-free are also four times more likely to crash, injuring or killing themselves and/or other people. Using a hands-free phone while driving does not significantly reduce the risks because the problems are caused mainly by the mental distraction and divided attention of taking part in a phone conversation at the same time as driving.

The Law On 1 December 2003, a law came into force to prohibit drivers using a hand-held mobile phone, or similar device, while driving. It also made it an offence to cause or permit a driver to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving, or to use a hand-held mobile phone while supervising a driver who only has a provisional license. The penalties are a fixed penalty (£2,500 for drivers of goods vehicles or passenger carrying vehicles with 9 or more passenger seats). The penalty for using a hand-held mobile phone whilst driving is £60 and three penalty points added to the drivers' license.

Insurance Benefits: Once your assessment has been done and remedial action, if needed, taken on board, the company covering your company fleet insurance may give a discount as you've taken steps to reduce the risk and environmental impact of your fleet of drivers. Ask them what they can do for you.

What happens on the day? 

• A presentation given to those taking part on what they are going to do and what their responsibilities are, this should be around 30 minutes but sometimes longer for larger groups,
• Each person will undertake an assessment drive to see if there any problems with their driving,  
• A demonstration of how the drive should have been done with emphasis on any problems evident,
• A coaching session to incorporate any remedial action into the driving,
• A report submitted to the relevant personnel.

All persons taking part must hold a full UK driving license and where applicable use the vehicle they would normally drive for their occupation.