Kwik-Fit Fleet has seen the volume of fleet-specific brake work increase by 40%

“Brakes are one of the most important items on a car. However, many company car drivers rely on an infrequent service or MoT as the only way of checking brakes”

And, in the first quarter of 2005, Kwik-Fit Fleet has reported a near-40% rise in fleet brake-related work, compared with the first three months of last year. 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. Kwik-Fit Fleet’s no-appointment, centre-based Brake Safety Programme initiative compares with most franchised dealers unable to offer a booking within 14 days of a telephone call being made, according to the company’s research.

Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Mike Wise says: “Brakes are one of the most important items on a car. However, many company car and van drivers and fleet managers rely on an infrequent service or MoT as the only way of checking brakes.” However, Kwik-Fit Fleet is also benefiting from drivers detecting brake-related problems in their company cars with some vehicles now fitted with warning lights “flashing up” a potential problem and advising that maintenance is carried out immediately. “As vehicle handbooks advise motorists to have the problem investigated as soon as possible, motorists are looking to Kwik-Fit to undertake the work as dealerships cannot promise prompt attention,” explains Mr Wise. “Drivers who believe their vehicle’s brakes need checking don’t want to have to wait for up to two weeks for the work to be carried out. “We will carry out a full brake inspection and report any problems to the end user if an outright purchase fleet or the leasing and fleet management company if appropriate and then carry out their instructions.”

The lifespan of brake pads, discs, and other parts varies depending on mileage, the type of vehicle, 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 vehicle once a year. However, many vehicles, 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 a false economy not to have brakes inspected for wear and tear.” Kwik-Fit Fleet expects brake-related work to rapidly increase throughout 2005 and further into the future as companies become more comfortable with trained fast-fit brake technicians undertaking inspection and replacement work and fleet operators acknowledge the importance of having checks carried out.

“A few minutes spent inspecting brake pads could save a hefty bill for brake disc replacement”

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. Kwik-Fit centres have access to brake parts for about 5,000 different vehicles with a guaranteed delivery time of 60 minutes if the part is not in stock. 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. With a national transparent pricing policy in place, fleets know exactly what they will pay before the work is carried out. 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.

Company car drivers may be out of their depth
Twenty per cent of Britain’s company car and van drivers could be driving vehicles fitted with unsafe tyres, putting the lives of themselves and other road users in jeopardy. Tyre safety checks on company cars and vans undertaken in office car parks at the instigation of safety-conscious fleet managers by Kwik-Fit Mobile has revealed that about 20% of vehicles require attention. Extrapolated across the UK’s three million-strong company car and approximately one million van parc, it means that up to 800,000 vehicles could be running on at least one unsafe tyre.

On-site tyre safety checks by Kwik-Fit Mobile technicians have found almost a fifth of vehicles required attention

“Ensuring tyres meet the legal requirement is a vital part of any corporate risk strategy”

Typically, tyres may be under or over inflated; tread may be below, or close to, 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the breadth of the tyre and around the entire circumference legal limit; tyre wear may be irregular, which may indicate a wheel alignment or vehicle loading problem; or the wall of a tyre may be damaged. The analysis is based on a typical month of safety checks undertaken by Kwik-Fit Mobile technicians. Data shows that on average 490 site visits are made each month nationwide with around 22,500 vehicles inspected, of which around a fifth are found to require attention. With the government urging health and safety laws, as well as road traffic legislation to be applied more rigorously to at-work driving incidents in a bid to cut road accidents, companies are being urged to ensure risk management strategies are in place – with tyre checks one vital feature of a comprehensive policy.

The current fine for driving on illegal tyres is £2,500 per tyre and three points per tyre on a driving licence. At 70mph, the stopping distance of a car fitted with a new tyre with 8mm of tread is calculated to be almost 100 metres; with 3mm of tread remaining a car’s stopping distance increases to 150 metres; with 1.6mm of tread remaining, a car’s stopping distance is 200 metres – double that of a vehicle fitted with a new tyre – and with just 1mm of a tread remaining, a car’s stopping distance is 250 metres. 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 and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) can 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. Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Mike Wise says: “Ensuring tyres meet the legal requirement is a vital part of any corporate risk strategy, but the human aspects in terms of safety, to my mind, far outweighs the legislative situation.

“I expect the shocking figures that we have uncovered, that show up to a fifth of company-operated vehicles could have at least one unsafe tyre, to result in a significant increase in the number of safety inspections we undertake. “Companies must not be complacent. After the first check has been carried out, a lower proportion of tyres need to be fitted during each safety check because the unsafe tyre problem is under control.” Kwik-Fit Mobile operates 220 mobile units nationwide undertaking routine tyre fitting as well as the safety checks, which see fully qualified tyre fitters undertake a visual inspection followed by a more in-depth check with levels taken and findings recorded. Authorisation will then be obtained for any rectification work to be carried out.

Mr Wise says: “Tyre safety checks are carried out on vehicles in staff car parks when employees are busy at their desks. That means no working time is lost. As each vehicle is checked tyres are replaced as required and we aim to use the spare if at possible. “If tyres are not changed before they wear to 1.6mm – we work to 2mm across the whole tread – drivers may be compromising the safety of themselves and other road users. To maintain safety and good driving performance, it is advisable to change tyres before they reach a tread depth of 1.6mm and to ensure the tyre is in good condition.”

Safety Checks from Kwik-Fit Mobile can be booked on: Tel: 0800 425262