Professor Peter Cooke

“There is a serious gap in knowledge and understanding in many boards of directors regarding workrelated road safety”

As a result, the report concludes that there is a “serious gap in knowledge and understanding in many boards of directors regarding work-related road safety and the more immediate issue of fleet safety – and their responsibility for fleet”.

The report, Profit through Safety – written by Professor Peter Cooke of the Centre for Automotive Industries Management, Nottingham Business School at the Nottingham Trent University and sponsored by Kwik-Fit Fleet – has been compiled as the range of legislation impacting on the operation of vehicles – both company and privately owned – used for business journeys continues to increase.

Effectively, the survey findings underline the gap between the understanding and awareness of boards of directors with respect to the fleet and the growth in their responsibilities, and the link to the fleet executive and business vehicle users in order to develop a sustainable fleet safety strategy.

Key findings of the two-part survey of directors, mainly finance directors in medium and large companies, and fleet executives include:

• 79% of companies have not compiled a car fleet risk management strategy
• 73% of companies do not identify company car operations as a strategic risk
• 38% of fleet executives are not aware of the Health and Safety Executive’s guide “Driving at Work: Managing Work-related Road Safety”, published in September last year (Roadsafe: winter 2003/04), despite fleet safety professionals regarding it as essential reading and the Bible of fleet best practice. Meanwhile, 35% of fleet executives were aware of the guide, but have not read it and just 27% have read it;
• 17% of respondents do not consider business cars to be a board issue and a further 21% said directors never discussed issues associated with business cars
• 31% of companies said no director has nominated company car fleet responsibility, while 40% said it was the managing director or deputy managing director
• 25% of respondents have no board reporting of accidents involving business-related vehicles, while 53% said they are reported on an ad hoc basis
• 47% of survey respondents said they have reduced fleet operating costs through a more safety-conscious attitude to fleet operations
• Two-thirds of fleets say driver training is not provided, while 16% said it is provided on a “selected at-risk” basis
• Despite the above finding, 38% of fleet executives said they believed driver training is the single biggest contributor to improving vehicle safety, followed by a company safety code and a broad list of other issues and actions

As a result of the findings, Professor Cooke concluded: “There would appear to be a paucity of knowledge of fleet operations and a delegation of the responsibility to the fleet executive, or another middle manager. Given the new ethos of care and the business car, such an attitude may need to change quickly.

“The study suggests that organisations may not yet have across their whole structure an awareness of, or appreciation for, fleet safety”

“The study suggests that organisations may not yet have across their whole structure an awareness of, or appreciation for, fleet safety. Given the changes in legislation and the enforcement of existing rules and guidelines, the board of directors may well be the part of the organisation that could suffer most should best practice not be in place – and be seen to be followed.

“Boards generally are not well informed or involved in the business car fleet or provision of personal business mobility by individuals using their own cars.” The law does not distinguish between company-owned and privately-owned vehicles used on business trips, and the report says: “The role of the fleet executive is changing with a greater responsibility being given to the person in that role.

“The fleet executive has a special role in that the business car picture is being confused by a proportion of employees providing their own cars for use on business. Such vehicles are the responsibility of the organisation if they are being used on business, so it is important that the fleet executive has a firm grip on them – and the authority to stop them being used.”

There has been a plethora of fleet safety material published in the last three years and the major issue facing businesses is to relate the published material to the fleet executive and the board of directors and to use it to build a modus operandi, argues the report. That modus operandi must create the link between board responsibility, the fleet executive and the business car driver or employee who uses their own car for business purposes. However, the report says: “The survey indicates that many fleet executives are not aware of, or have not read some of the seminal material available on fleet safety.”

The survey highlights that there is a requirement for fleets to move from a tactical approach to the strategic level, linking what might have historically been treated as a laissez faire attitude managed by the fleet executive to a more formal, structured system that embraces the board of directors, the fleet executive and car users with the appropriate supporting communications and protocols. In conclusion, the report adds: “Fleet safety is good for reducing businesses costs as well as helping to keep management out of jail.”

To order your copy of the new Kwik-Fit Fleet-sponsored report
Profit through Safety, call Kwik-Fit Fleet on: 01727 840206
or e-mail: info@kwik-fitfleet.com

Putting the brakes on poor service Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Mike Wise looks on as a Kwik-Fit technician undertakes brake checks “Our biggest challenge is to change the mindset of fleet managers and company car drivers and encourage them to use Kwik-Fit centres for all their brake requirements” Kwik-Fit Fleet has experienced a 21% year-on-year growth in the company car brake replacement market in the first third of 2004 following the New Year launch of its Brake Safety Programme. The company launched the drive-in brake inspection and replacement initiative at its 750 centres nationwide in a bid to win an increased share of the £100m a year UK company car brake replacement market. A combination of extended vehicle service intervals and the growing importance of at-work driving safety initiatives means regular brake inspections are more critical than ever. The no-appointment service compares with most franchised dealers unable to offer a booking within 14 days of a telephone call being made, according to Kwik-Fit research. Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Mike Wise says: “I am delighted at the way the Brake Safety Programme has taken off. A 21% year-on-year increase in business is impressive, although our existing fleet brake-related work was only modest in volume. “But if we can continue that pace of growth, as a result of the Brake Safety Programme, our share of the company car brake replacement market can evolve into a significant area of business in exactly the same way as Kwik-Fit Fleet has developed and continued to expand its share of the fleet tyre repair and replacement market over many years.” Brakes are one of the most important items on a car. However, many company car drivers and fleet managers rely on an infrequent service or MoT as the only way of checking them The majority of company car brake work has historically been undertaken at franchised dealers, but Mr Wise says: “Company car drivers are often having to wait for a very long time to have their brakes inspected and replaced at dealers. In addition, due to increasingly infrequent visits to dealers as a result of extended service intervals, some fleets believe brake parts have been replaced prematurely.” The lifespan of brake pads, discs, and other parts vary depending on mileage, the type of car, the way a vehicle is driven and the way it is loaded. The average company car driver can expect to replace the brake pads on their car once a year. However, many cars, due to their design and usage, may require brake inspections as often as four times a year. Mr Wise says: “A free brake inspection at one of our centres can prove to be a major cost saving for fleet managers. A few minutes spent inspecting brake pads could save a hefty bill for brake disc replacement if the pads are allowed to wear down to the metal. It is false economy not to have brakes inspected for wear and tear.” While prices vary dramatically, the fitted price for a set of four brake pads can be as low as £20, while a pair of front discs could cost at least an additional £40 each. Mr Wise adds: “Our biggest challenge is to change the mindset of fleet managers and company car drivers and encourage them to use Kwik-Fit centres for all their brake requirements where no appointment is necessary. It is a major task, but we have been successful in winning tyre business from dealers and I believe we can be similarly successful in securing brake business. “Our brake service has been a strong retail offering for several years. But with the ability to offer fleets a convenient while-you-wait drive-in service we believe Kwik-Fit Fleet can significantly increase its share of the company car brake market.” Brake specialists at Kwik-Fit centres undertake free inspections and, if necessary, replace brake parts within minutes of the fleet driver arriving. Kwik-Fit brake technicians use state-of-the-art digital measuring equipment and a Brake Performance Assessment System. In addition, they will carry out a comprehensive diagnostic inspection with all measurements compared against the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications and provide a detailed appraisal report on each car’s brake components before any work is carried out. Worn parts are also kept for any future inspection. In addition, with a national transparent pricing policy in place fleets know exactly what they will pay before the work is carried out. As part of the Kwik-Fit Fleet Brake Safety Programme major fleet and leasing company customers have been issued with a CD ROM containing brake part numbers and pricing. Market leaders such as Mintex, Lucas and Unipart manufacture brake parts available at Kwik-Fit centres. It is estimated that the UK car brake market is worth about £590m, of which the company car sector accounts for just over a sixth of that value.