Easing the administrative burden |
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This is another warning to employers and fleet managers about the responsibility they have to keep their drivers safe, with the information recorded potentially leading to a more detailed examination of a company’s occupational driving procedures and schedules. However, what is undoubtedly a major administrative burden for both employers and employees has been solved by ALD Automotive, one of the UK’s leading contract hire and leasing companies with a fleet of 45,000 vehicles. All new vehicles supplied by ALD Automotive are being equipped with a unique risk management-inspired, in-car telemetry system. Exclusive to ALD Automotive, the cutting edge ProFleet2 (PF2) technology enables a wealth of management and driver information to be transmitted and then analysed on-line, helping companies comply with a range of health and safety and duty of care legislation. One key benefit is that mileage and journey times are automatically recorded and can be accessed on-line exclusively by drivers. With a “business mileage only” reporting option drivers can, therefore, easily maintain their at-work driving records and provide them for their employer, thereby ensuring a thorough audit trail of vehicles and drivers is kept, which, in turn, reduces the company’s risk exposure. ALD Automotive deputy managing director Nigel Fletcher says: “ProFleet2’s ability to record journey length, start and end times, distance and general location data gives employers the tools to meet both the working time rules and the myriad of other health and safety-related at-work driving regulations. The technology solves both the administrative burden of record keeping as well as aiding compliance with the law.” The new Road Transport (Working Time) Directive is specifically aimed at “mobile workers”. It targets commercial drivers and the crews of HGV and public service vehicles. Although the regulation does not specifically refer to van drivers, the definition of a mobile worker includes drivers of vehicles “constructed or adapted to carry goods” and light commercial vehicles fall within that criteria. In addition, in defining who is affected by the Directive, the government says a “mobile worker is any worker who in the service of an undertaking operates road transport services for passengers or the movement of goods”. Mr Fletcher says: “While the latest Directive targets ‘mobile workers’, the existing Working Time Regulations cover all employees. “This means that everyone who drives on business – company car drivers and staff in their own cars – must now have the time that they spend travelling recorded and monitored.”The Department for Transport estimates that up to 350 people a year are killed where a driver has fallen asleep at the wheel. Mr Fletcher says: “It is clear that many employees are working extremely long hours and that tiredness results in serious road traffic accidents. Our PF2 technology not only enables businesses to comply with the law, but could prove to be a lifesaver. “Data collected as a result of the technology will enable employers to build up a clear picture of journey patterns. By analysing the findings travel schedules can be revised and general time management issues reviewed. “In the event of a road traffic accident involving an occupational driver, investigating police officers are likely to request working time records demonstrating the number of hours that a driver has been on the road during a working week and that the company’s working practices and meetingschedules are such that a driver is not placed in a position where driving for excessive periods is a requirement. “The ProFleet2 service is designed to enable the efficient and proactive management of health and safety and duty of care obligations of which keeping working time records is a crucial aspect.” For more information, visit: www.aldautomotive.co.uk
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