Fleet Driver Training Is Now Vitally Important Under New Legislation

In force as of April 2008, The Corporate Manslaughter Bill and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 is a landmark in law. From now on, companies can be prosecuted for corporate manslaughter if an employee is involved in a a car accident resulting in a fatality involving either driver, passenger or pedestrians.

The law now deems the motor vehicle to be an extension of the workplace and so you are required by law, under The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, to provide full driver safety and awareness training with documentation, and to maintain a strict audit trail of training for all employees who drive on business. It is not acceptable to rely on the fact that your employee has passed a standard driving test!

As the blame culture continues to gain traction, victims are increasingly looking to employers for proof of the vehicle's suitability and roadworthiness together with details of and driver training that had been provided.

In the event of a serious or fatal road accident involving one of your employees, and you have failed to comply with the law, it will significantly increase the chance that your company will be prosecuted under the new Corporate Manslaughter Bill with the possibility that the penalties could sink your business.

Incidents used to be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive but now, suspected breaches under the new law will be investigated by the Police who have the power to cordon off the company premisesbuildings (including Line Managers' or Directors' homes) and to remove any equipment or records as possible evidence whilst, or until, the investigation has been completed.

Andy business with more than five employees who drive on business, whether in a company vehicle, pool car, hire car or their own car, is required by law to provide comprehensive Fleet Driver Training including safety and awareness training with documentation and maintain a strict audit trail of training for all staff. The London Times Newspaper found, when reporting on the introduction of this law, that a staggering 53% of businesses failed to make some of the simplest checks required to ensure their employees were driving legally.

In order to comply with current UK health and safety duty of care legislation, your chosen fleet driver training programme needs to provide a comprehensive audit trail and should aim to:
• ensure employees and other road users are safe
• reduce the number and cost of incidents
• reduce the likelihood of prosecutions and claims
• provide clear, practical guidance for managers and employees
• encourage positive cultural attitude to driver safety

The best courses will also provide the following:
• Online, pre-course driver risk assessment
• Practical defensive driving disciplines
• Dynamic driving tuition
• Accident avoidance tuition
• Individual driving assessment and tuition
• Tuition regarding onboard safety systems such as 'traction control' and ABS etc
• Hazard perception, new legislation, drink/drugs awareness, Highway Code, etc
• Post-course update programme to ensure knowledge retention

Get all this right and your fleet driver training course will protect your employees by helping them to recognise and avoid potentially dangerous situations on the road and by equipping them with the knowledge, skills and confidence to react in the correct manner in any scenario. It will also protect you, your company and its directors by helping you to fully understand and comply with current legislation and reduce costs through lower accident rates, maintenance costs and therefore insurance premiums.


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Ultimate Car Control UK provide the ONLY fully legally compliant fleet driver training programme for business under UK health and safety law. It has been quoted as the most innovative, educational, exciting and complete driver training programme available anywhere in the world. http://www.fleet-driver-training.com