One quarter of businesses fail to conduct regular vehicle safety checks

According to research by TomTom Telematics, a quarter of businesses in the UK do not regularly conduct safety checks on vehicles used for business purposes. Gathering data from senior managers at 400 UK businesses, the study also revealed that while a majority of businesses do check driver documentation such as licence and insurance details (89%), only 43% perform such checks more than once per six months. Fifteen per cent of respondents confessed their companies check documentation only when a new employee joins, failing to schedule further follow-up checks. 21% of companies operating grey fleets _ vehicles used for business purposes but owned by employees _ do not conduct any checks on drivers' insurance documentation at all. Beverley Wise, 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.î Further responses showed 60% of those who manage to check driver documentation do so manually as opposed to electronically. 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. 'Ultimately, businesses need to keep on top of the process to ensure they have all the relevant information they need. "Technological systems can help in this respect by setting schedules and notifications for checks and collating results. "Telematics also helps facilitate the move to a more proactive approach to vehicle safety by reporting fault codes, allowing maintenance to be conducted before problems become serious.î