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Very simply, the BVRLA is the trade association of the vehicle rental and leasing industry for cars, light commercials and heavy goods vehicles in the UK. There are some 800 members, ranging from local rental companies to very large leasing organisations with all types and sizes of enterprises in between. Together, members operate a fleet in excess of 2.2m vehicles, buy more than £1m new vehicles each year and spend some £14bn annually on vehicles and related services. As you can see, this industry makes a valuable contribution to the economy and employs more than 30,000 people. The BVRLA plays two major roles. First, it provides services to members ranging from information provision right through to legal advice and conciliation. Second, the Association lobbies on behalf of the industry. It forms a single, aggregated voice, which is listened to by government and its many agencies. The BVRLA is frequently consulted by government prior to legislation being enacted and is often able to remove or modify contrary clauses or regulations. The recent drive towards road safety has had a particular emphasis on both the company car driver and the employer. The BVRLA has acted accordingly to this and shown its commitment to improving road safety by providing an important topical seminar series called “Driving on the Job”. Here, they teamed up with leading defensive driving experts “Drive and Survive”. Members attending the seminar were taken through the corporate aspects of risk management as well as an interactive workshop on key skills to reduce preventable accidents. Of course, safety on the road spans from driver safety to the safety of the vehicle itself. BVRLA Rental Members have rigorous inspections of their vehicles. The AA inspects the premises and vehicles of the rental sites and the Freight Transport Association inspects the commercial vehicles that are for hire at member locations. This ensures a high standard of vehicle safety and is a condition of membership to the BVRLA. Also, if you do happen to drive a company car your vehicle is likely to be one of the safest vehicles on the road. BVRLA Leasing Members are professional organisations who provide a very high standard of customer service. Not only do they provide you with a vehicle, but they have to have everything in place to maintain that vehicle for you too. Their methods of checking vehicles have advanced over the past few years in line with the new technology now available. For example, there are products on the market that can detect the actual condition of the tyres or whether the vehicle is due for a service. This computerised system is hooked up to the leasing company and will alert them directly when something needs attention in the vehicle. The new technology is there to ensure that the vehicle’s performance is in top condition therefore helping road safety on all levels. The BVRLA has a commitment to road safety and supports all sensible projects and campaigns, such as the variable speed limits on motorways. However, John Lewis, director general of the Association, is aware that road safety is a national problem that isn't confined to those who drive for a living. “Road safety is a national issue that involves anyone who steps on or drives on a road,” he says. “There are long journeys that are forced by work, but there’s nothing to stop anyone driving for eight hours straight on a private journey. The government needs to educate all people in driving safety with equal emphasis.” |
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