NEW research from broker funder Alphabet has uncovered a distinct need for duty of care management.
The findings showed a third (33%) of fleet managers had little to no knowledge of corporate duty of care for employees that drive company-owned or leased vehicles.
While only under half (45%) said they had real knowledge and understanding of duty of care.
The insight offers leasing brokers the opportunity to sell in their fleet management expertise.
Alphabet’s general manager of customer account management, Gavin Davies, pointed out that corporates and SME businesses needed to understand and mitigate the risks associated with occupational driving.
In particular, he said, there were duty of care and legal obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Road Traffic Act 1988, and the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.
Our research shows there are some vital gaps when it comes to understanding and meeting duty of care responsibilities when employees are driving on company business. Far too many employers are still unaware that they retain responsibility for their employees’ safety and conduct when they’re travelling for work purposes, even if they’re using their own car.
It’s clear fleet managers need to prioritise risk management, whether that’s seeking external advice or bringing in an experienced partner to manage the full process for them.
Other findings in the Alphabet research included
- 43% of businesses have seen an uptick in private vehicle use on business post-pandemic
- But 51% said they didn’t fully understand the risk implications of grey fleet
- Most fleet managers had driver training in place (88%) but 12% of fleets with more than six vehicles conducted zero driver training
- 8% did not record accidents to company vehicles on business; 16% did not record accidents to grey fleet drivers
Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
