Many people drive for a living, whether they are a courier for a firm or the driver of a large truck.  It has been estimated that close to one third of the traffic accidents that occur on the roads in the United Kingdom involve someone who is driving as part of their job.  With close to eight hundred collisions a year, and up to one thousand deaths because of it, job related driving is one of the riskiest activities a person could engage in while in employment.  In 2003, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced that all companies with five or more employees will be heavily investigated if any of their workers are involved in a motor accident.  Employers who cannot provide proof of adequate procedures and polices that are put in place by the company could risk prosecution and imprisonment.

According to information released by the HSE, employers, managers, or supervisors that have staff that drive a vehicle for their job are responsible for ensuring that their employees understand road safety as it pertains to their job.  The employers must make sure the vehicles are in a safe working condition and complying with all laws.  They are also required to make sure their employees’ safety and the safety of others are not put at risk.  They must manage all health and safety issues effectively, and review, monitor, and assess how the policies and procedures are being followed.

The law is designed to protect any staff member who needs to drive as part of their everyday job.  This would include driving short distances for off-site meetings, site visits, and business travel, say to another city.  Both company and privately owned vehicles are covered.  By having an occupational road-risk management program in place, companies can do their part to reduce the number of serious accidents and fatalities.

It has never been more important than now to ensure that all employees within a company who has either, access to, or drives company vehicles are full trained and aware of the legislation now in place that affects them and their employers. This also includes those drivers who use their own vehicles for company use, either as part of the job, or on a temporary basis.

The consequences for the company can be very serious in the event that the employee is involved in an accident, or the vehicle is defective, or not correctly insured. At Bill Plant Fleetcraft Ltd., as one of the UK’s leading Occupational Road Risk Management and Driver Training specialists, we provide an extensive range of services delivering measurable and tangible results, not only in the field of Occupational Road Risk Management and Consultancy but also driver training to a very high standard. The results include reduced accident rates and improved fuel economy as well as lower fleet operating costs. Contact us, the Corporate Manslaughter Bill became law on the 6th April 2008!

If you are a fleet driver for a company, you may have already taken an approved advanced motoring course.  If not, the course will teach you how to drive better through planning and the efficient use of the road to ensure safety as you travel.  The course builds upon your current driving skills and helps you prepare a driving plan to follow.  It will help you build confidence, improve your awareness of the road, and make driving more enjoyable as you improve both your performance and efficiency.

By managing your road space, you are setting clear lines for yourself regarding how far behind another person you are driving, whether you are following the speed limits, and if you can properly anticipate the need for a quick and sudden stop.  You will also be watching out for unexpected things other than a stopped car ahead of you, such as animals and children running into the road, or debris from a blown lorry tire or other vehicle.  If you need to swerve to avoid hitting these things, then you need to be able to better manage your road space.  Sometimes an accident can be avoided by simply swerving out of the way.  Also the use of the horn and headlights to make your presence known to avoid a collision is acceptable.

Driving instructor Val Smithson was running her own driving school and had no intention of signing up to be a franchisee -  until her car needed replacing.

‘I was checking prices of new vehicles on the internet and saw the Bill Plant website,’ says Val. ‘The more I weighed up options it was cheaper and easier to go with Bill Plant. They supplied the car, insurance, everything and promised to help find me some pupils

Val, aged 40,was moving from Kent to Fareham, Hampshire.  She says: ‘ I was starting out in a new area; I didn’t know anybody and I genuinely had nothing to lose.

‘Within two weeks of contacting Bill Plant I had a full diary and couldn’t take any more bookings. One senior examiner told me to get established in an area like this is very difficult but I’ve had no problem whatsoever.’

Val has had an assortment of jobs from bus driver, hotel receptionist and estate agent before settling for a career as a driving instructor.

Val who is qualified to drive HGV’s, buses and motorcycles, is one of Bill Plant Fleetcraft’s experienced trainers.

She says: “I love driving, I like being out on the road but if someone said one day I’d be a driving instructor I’d have laughed.

‘Best of all I like getting to know my pupils, In fact I’m still in touch with some. Sometimes it’s a bit like being an agony aunt and counselor as well as a driving instructor.’

It is worth reminding anyone who is connected with a company, which has vehicles and drivers, that they are now subject to the Corporate Manslaughter Bill which became law on the 6th April 2008. Fleet operators and others, if they have not already done so, should familiarise themselves will the risks associated when operating vehicles as part of their business.

Bill Plant, which is one of the UK’s leading Occupational Road Risk Management and Driver Training specialists, can provide up to the minute training and advice on the risks that are involved, not only in the field of Occupational Road Risk Management and Consultancy but also driver training to a very high standard. By taking part in this Fleetcraft Training, your company will see lower fleet operating costs, a reduction in accident rates as well as improved fuel economy. Reduce your costs and road risk by contacting us now, for your Corporate Driver Training.

Materials need to be shipped from place to place and sometimes the only way to ensure that this happens is to ship via commercial truck.  By taking approved training lessons through our Fleetcraft course you can be on your way to driving safely and efficiently for the company you work for.  These fleet driving courses have helped reduce the amount of accidents their drivers have been involved in and many of them have seen their commercial automobile insurance policies reduced.

Company representatives who take these classes have afterwards found that they are more comfortable, more relaxed, and more composed behind the wheel of their vehicle.  They do not feel the nervousness associated with meeting a new or existing client, and they are able to concentrate on the meeting at hand without worry.  They are more productive and efficient.  Many businesses encourage fleet drivers to take these classes to help reduce costs due to accident repairs, insurance premiums and compensation claims, injuries, litigation, fuel consumption, and other company financial concerns.

Most companies have policies that cover the management aspect of driving and then the actual driving itself.  Procedures should be put in place for your safety as a fleet driver and it is up to you to follow them to the best of your ability.  A zero-accident atmosphere at a company is the best there can be and by being proactive, your career as a fleet driver will be a long and safe one.  If you are a fleet driver, we are currently recruiting qualified fleet trainers. Click here for more information.

How often do you stop when driving when you begin to feel tired? According to safety campaigners not many of us do and driving when feeling tired is the cause of 20%, or one in five road accidents on major roads in the country.

How do you recognise tiredness when driving? According to the Road Safety Minister, a single yawn is enough to signal that you should stop at the next service area or lay by and have a twenty minute sleep or “cat nap”, enough to recover and continue your journey. Many fleet drivers, or others who drive for work, point out that if you are going to a meeting, or have a timed delivery to make, twenty minutes will completely throw out your schedule. Frankly this is just not an excuse and planned stops should be factored into your journeys, having, or causing an accident is not an option.

B and E trailer training is another part of the driver training available from Bill Plant Fleetcraft. As an employer you will need to check out your drivers to make certain that they are legally qualified in order for them to legally tow a trailer if the combined weight is more that 750 kg. Fleetcraft offer B and E training courses to make certain people are fully qualified.  Contact  Fleetcraft directly for more information.

Corporate Manslaughter training  is really about saving lives. Statistics show that more people are killed at work than are killed in the wars. Remember, you as an Employer are responsible when your staff drive a company vehicle. Fleet manager’s need to pay special attention to the Corporate Manslaughter Act. This is where Corporate Manslaughter Training comes in and is offered by Bill Plant Fleetcraft.

The  Corporate Manslaughter Act is not the easiest UK law to follow, this is why Fleetcraft offer specific training on the subject.  Organisation’s can be found guilty and effectively charged with Corporate Manslaughter if they do not protect themselves and train their employee’s appropriately.

It’s a frightening fact but more people are killed when at work each year than in the wars. The UK have gone to great lengths to do something about this problem which is why the law has responded with the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act which here at Bill Plant Driving School we feel it is important for you to be aware of.

The legislation itself seems to be a great improvement on that of the past and makes it easier for companies who are simply not taking care to make sure their driver’s are safe to be convicted more easily.

Basically, companies out there that have good safety policies should not live in fear of the new law. But let’s face it as a company how many times do you review your safety policies and are you really confident that you have the necessary procedures in place to make your staff safe?

Here is where Bill Plant can help you.  Look at our Occupational Road Risk Management section in the Fleetcraft section of the driving school website. The reduction of driving accidents through fleet operation training has already been proven.

Protection of your company is essential and the backup from experienced consultants is paramount. Corporate driver training is not just the phrase of the moment it can potentially be life saving.