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Yet experience shows that up to one million of the UK’s three million company car drivers are driving around on unsafe tyres. Why? The answer is simple – drivers don’t bother to undertake regular safety checks. Put simply, a safe tyre could save your life, while an unsafe tyre could be responsible for your death and the deaths of others. Britain’s most safety-conscious fleets have woken up to that fact and are having regular safety checks carried out on their vehicles to make sure they perform at maximum efficiency. And, in many cases, those safety checks extend way beyond tyres to include fluid levels, brakes, lights and instrumentation. Ever since the November 2001 publication of the government-inspired Work-Related Road Safety Task Group’s report, fleet chiefs have highlighted at-work driver safety as the number one industry issue. However, Kwik-Fit Fleet’s latest survey of cars driven by fleet decision-makers shows that up to a third of the people responsible for fleet vehicles in their businesses are taking to the wheel of unsafe cars. Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Mike Wise says: “Our survey revealed an alarming number of faults on vehicles being driven by responsible individuals. The very fact that these people were attending a fleet safety seminar when the survey was undertaken shows that they understand the importance of corporate fleet safety and risk management. “However, it is clear that many of these people are not carrying out frequent safety inspections on their own company car let alone ensuring that similar checks are undertaken on all vehicles on the fleet for which they are responsible. “Companies must establish a partnership between directors, employees and fleet executives if an occupational driving risk management strategy is to be successful and vehicle safety checks are part of that policy.” Kwik-Fit Mobile and Kwik-Fit Fleet Hometune technicians carried out safety checks at the Kwik-Fit Fleet-sponsored safety seminars and found that almost one third of the 50 cars checked had faults which impacted on the vehicle’s roadworthiness and the safety of other road users. This snapshot study replicated across the UK’s three million-strong company car park means that almost one million vehicles may be unsafe, but continue to be driven. More than one fault was detected on a handful of cars and many other faults were spotted that impacted on the roadworthiness of the vehicles. Some faults detected, such as low tyre tread depths and light defects, meant drivers were breaking the law and could have been prosecuted if stopped by the police. The catalogue of faults revealed by the vehicle checks were: • 31% of vehicles had tyres which were on the 1.6mm legal limit • 11% of vehicles had tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit • 28% of vehicles had incorrect tyre pressures, of which two vehicles were 30% below manufacturer guidelines • 5% of vehicles had flat spare tyres • 23% of vehicles were low on oil, with the dipstick on two cars failing to register any oil • 17% of vehicles had stone chips to the windscreen • 17% of vehicles had low coolant levels, with two vehicles having no anti-freeze at all • 11% of vehicles had light malfunctions • 8% of vehicles had washers which did not work
“Not only could the company car driver be facing prosecution, but the company and senior employees such as the fleet decision-maker and company directors could be facing court action under duty of care or aiding and abetting an offence legislation. “With regard to the vehicle itself, the police will want to see maintenance records and know that daily or weekly checks are carried out as to roadworthiness. All of the faults that our technicians highlighted could have been corrected with regular safety inspections, taking the onus and responsibility away from fleet decision-makers.” Tyre safety checks on company cars undertaken in office car parks at the instigation of safety-conscious fleet managers by Kwik-Fit Mobile have revealed that up to 10% of tyres are typically illegal when the first check is carried out. That will often be two tyres on any particular car, as tyres tend to wear out in pairs. However, if possible, the spare tyre is brought into use. Poor tread on a tyre could be the cause of an accident and an increasing focus on the causes of at-work road accidents is likely to mean tyre wear becomes an even greater issue during police and health and safety investigations. Meanwhile, the Vehicle Inspectorate can already be called in to examine whether a vehicle defect may have contributed to an incident and, often in tandem with the police, carry out spot checks on vehicle roadworthiness. At 70mph, the stopping distance of a car fitted with a new tyre with 8mm of tread is calculated to be 100m; with 3mm of tread remaining a car’s stopping distance increases to 150m; with 1.6mm of tread remaining a car’s stopping distance is 200m – double that of a vehicle fitted with a new tyre – and with just 1mm of a tread remaining, a car’s stopping distance is 250m.
The current fine for driving on illegal tyres is £2,500 per tyre and three points on a driving licence. One organisation working with Kwik-Fit Fleet to ensure all its vehicles are safe is the Inland Revenue. For almost a year, fortnightly safety checks have been undertaken on the nationwide 900-strong Inland Revenue pool car fleet by Kwik-Fit Fleet’s mobile technicians. The fortnightly 20-minutes per car safety inspection covers: checks and top-ups to all fluid levels under the bonnet; visual checks for fluid leaks; checks on all lights; instruments and controls for damage or defects; a visual check of the vehicle for damage; checks for excess handbrake travel; checks for seatbelt defects; tyre condition; tread and pressure checks; checks for any abnormal engine noise. Remedial work will then be sanctioned. Technicians will also undertake hour-long interim safety checks on all Inland Revenue pool cars and some company cars.
Interim safety inspections of the pool fleet, in particular, are necessary since vehicles are used by numerous employees, often for a series of short journeys on the same day with different drivers. Such usage can result in considerably increased vehicle wear and tear. Inland Revenue commercial operations director Stan Ayling says: “The national service ensures that uniform checks are carried out on cars nationwide. From a health and safety point of view, it is essential that both the transport department and staff at all the offices are comfortable that the cars are in first-class condition.” Mr Wise says: “Pressure on companies and organisations to reduce at-work road accidents by focusing on fleet risk management is increasing. The Inland Revenue’s decision to introduce frequent vehicle safety checks is reflective of a pro-active and caring employer.” Kwik-Fit Fleet has a mobile tyre and vehicle servicing fleet of almost 300 units. That fleet, embracing Kwik-Fit Mobile and Hometune businesses, is expected to grow significantly, partly fuelled by demand for company car park vehicle safety checks as the national drive to reduce at-work road traffic accidents gains momentum. Mr Wise concludes: “Ultimately, whether or not safety checks are carried out as part of an overall fleet risk management strategy relates to a company’s willingness to manage risk. “Managing fleet risks makes good business sense. It reduces costs, eliminates corporate liability, generates the image of a good corporate citizen and fosters employee security and job satisfaction. “The issue may have been ignored, or at least given a low priority in the past; directors and senior managers can only do so at their peril in the future.” For further information, telephone Kwik-Fit Fleet on 01727 840206
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