Kwik-Fit Fleet Encourages Participation in Road Risk Survey

Britain’s largest independent fast-fit operator, Kwik-Fit Fleet, is participating in a major occupational road risk management survey in conjunction with RoadSafe, the organisation responsible for managing the Government’s ‘Driving for Better Business’ programme. The survey was officially launched at the Fleet Business Show at the Business Design Centre, London on April 29. The survey’s aim is to gain information on what actions 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 the month’s Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act in early April.

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 business 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 motor and transport industries companies throughout Britain, the Government and road safety professionals, and aims to build partnerships to promote safer road use and reduce deaths and injuries caused on the roads. 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 participant winning an all expenses paid weekend for two. Details are available from kwik-fit.com/fleet, roadsafe.com and drivingforbetterbusiness.com.