Regular safety checks on vehicle fleets are not being conducted by a quarter of businesses, research has claimed, reports the Safety and Health Practicitioner.
The study by TomTom Telematics, which surveyed senior managers at 400 UK-based firms, also found only 43% checked license and insurance documentation more than once every six months.
But on a positive note, 89% of managers did check driver documentation, regardless of time period.
Some 15% of respondents said organisations only checked documentation when a new employee joined – and did not schedule follow-up checks.
Beverley Wise, the UK & Ireland director at TomTom Telematics, said: “Ensuring vehicles and drivers are roadworthy is a fundamental requirement for any organisation that expects employees to drive for business purposes.
“If organisations are to safeguard employees and protect themselves from risk, it is important to have comprehensive systems in place not only for ensuring checks are conducted frequently but also to ensure findings are properly recorded and acted upon where necessary.”
There was also a lack of technology involved in safety checks on vehicles. Three-fifths of those surveyed, who check driver documentation, still do it manually – with the remainder conducting electronic checks.
In the specific case of companies operating grey fleets – vehicles owned by employees but used for business purposes – 21% do not conduct any checks on drivers’ insurance documentation.
Wise added: “Since the paper counterpart to the photocard licence was abolished more than two years ago, endorsements and disqualifications have only been recorded electronically.
“Therefore, businesses should strongly consider moving from manual to electronic checks to ensure they are building a more comprehensive picture on driver risk.”
