Third of fleets are lacking on safety, new website finds

Launched in April 2007, more than 210 fleet managers have signed up to the Fleet Safety Benchmarking project and undertaken its 10-question fleet safety audit. The project is run by the Fleet Safety Forum, in partnership with risk management specialists Interactive Driving Systems.

Funded by the Department for Transport, it allows companies to anonymously compare their fleet safety procedures and crash data with that of other companies, to help them identify potentially lifesaving improvements.

Other statistics from the Fleet Safety Benchmarking website reveal that:

• Only 47% of companies had a comprehensively written, signed, and dated safety, health and environmental management policy, which includes clear objectives and a commitment to improving driver safety performance
• Just 45% of companies optimised work schedules and travel requirements to minimise road risks and to encourage compliance with speed limits, working time regulations, road safety laws and to avoid the times of day when falling asleep at the wheel is most likely (2-6 am and 2-4 pm).
• Only 54% of companies gave all new employees a formal induction, which covers policy, equipment familiarisation, collision and fuel reporting, emergency procedures, vehicle checking/maintenance and the importance of safety for brand reputation.
• Only 59% of companies had a system in place to maintain driver records, including medical/health information, reference and licence checks, training records and qualifications, collision history and fuel efficiency.

Dr Will Murray, research director at Interactive Driving Systems, said: "Although many companies who completed the audit were moving towards setting up the necessary procedures, the results show a worrying state of fleet safety in the UK.

"It is vital that fleet managers are aware of best practice fleet safety in order to improve workrelated road safety programs, procedures and processes in organisations. For this reason we are encouraging as many organisations as possible to take part.

"Crash analysis, risk audits and benchmarking are crucial to effectively manage road risk, helping companies assess their fleet safety processes and policies and identify potential improvements. The benchmarking website can help fleet managers to: carry out effective selfaudits relating to their fleet safety policies and procedures; anonymously benchmark their company's crash data and safety standards with other organisations and network with other fleet managers."

Fleet operators can sign up free of charge to benchmark their driver safety by logging on to www.fleetsafetybenchmarking.net

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