subject: Fleet Driver Training - Frequently Asked Questions [print this page] Fleet Driver Training - Frequently Asked Questions
How does the law affect my business?The Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 makes it a legal requirement for any UK business that expects its employees to drive on business to ensure they are trained appropriately and the company is legally required to maintain a strict audit trail of all fleet driver training provided. If there is a fatal accident involving a member of staff, an employer will be expected to provide details of the training provided together with other details such as confirmation that the vehicle was roadworthy and insured for business use. The Corporate Manslaughter Bill and Corporate Homicide Act, 2007 means that it is now the police who carry out these investigations and the potential penalties can be draconian, up to and including huge fines, negative publicity and even prison sentences. Is it not OK that my employees have passed a standard driving test?No. The motor vehicle is now classed as an extension of the workplace and so all the health and safety rules that apply to a factory or office also apply to the car, regardless of whether it is a company car, pool car, hire car, or private car used for occasional business trips. Employees are often required to drive thousands of miles a year with long hours, at unsociable times, on motorways and to and from events - a far from complete list of things that are not covered in the standard driving test. An employer MUST train their drivers to operate the vehicle safely and to recognise potential hazards that could affect their concentration and the safety of both them and others.How do I ensure my business complies?You will need to find a fleet driver training company that can provide a full turnkey compliance solution - one that fully complies with all UK Health and Safety at work legislation. One of the most important elements is to make sure that you are able to provide a full audit trail that carefully logs every piece of training given to an individual driver. If there is an accident, you will be expected by the police to be able to prove quickly that the business has made all the checks required regarding driving licences, insurance and vehicle suitability, as well as providing the correct training in a timely manner.How long does the training take?Most fleet driver training programmes consist of a one day 'out of office' training course so there is minimum disruption to your business. If your business has a large geographic coverage then you should probably opt for a fleet driver training company that operates from more than one location. Ultimate Car Control, based in the UK, for instance, operates from 10 locations in the UK but also provides training across Europe and further afield when required.What are the benefits of fleet driver training?Aside from legal compliance, the financial benefits of fleet driver training are huge. Business often realise massive reductions in accident rates, sometimes as much as 50%, which means equally significant drops in insurance premiums. Additionally the reduced incident rate means that maintenance costs, repair costs and lost work days through injury are all reduced as well. Selecting the right course can actually become self financing.How to I get staff buy-in?You need to to select your driver training programme very carefully. The thing your employees hate is sitting in a car all day with an instructor criticizing their driving style. The best training also includes dynamic awareness and are usually held off the road in a secure location, minimising the distractions that training on the public road brings, where they learn proper car control.
