One small but important change to the fleet driver checking software involves driver mandate forms, which authorise an employee to allow their employers to check their licence information with the DVLA.

These have been now been pre-populated, meaning that drivers merely have to sign and return the document that has been e-mailed to them.

Neville Briggs, MD at the contract hire and fleet management solutions supplier, said: “Risk management continues to be a subject that more and more fleets are taking seriously and, as a result, adoption of Licence Link is continuing at a rapid pace. It is now in use by fleets totalling tens of thousands of drivers.

“These latest detail enhancements are designed to increase the ease of use of the product. The whole ethos behind Licence Link is that it is simple to adopt and use but very effective, and these latest changes underline that approach.”

Licence Link is designed to help employers simplify the routine task of regularly checking car and van driver licence information through a web based system – something made essential by the introduction of risk management legislation.

Academics and scientists will soon attempt to decide if drug driving measures can be brought in that would act as the equivalent to drink driving laws such as legal limits and roadside testing.

Department for Transport revealed that drugs were considered as a ‘contributory factor’ by police in 1,094 road traffic accidents during 2010, resulting in a total of 51 fatalities.

Pressure has been growing for the Government to act over drug driving in recent years. A poll by insurance comparers Confused.com in August 2011 found that 7 in 10 British motorists don’t feel enough is being done to tackle the problem and urged the Government to crack down.

In the same poll, 8% of 25-34 year olds admitted to using illegal drugs while behind the wheel while a different survey from road safety charity Brake found that 10% of 17-24 year olds had driven after taking an illegal drug.

Cloudiness and elasticity

Neville Briggs, Managing Director at CFC Solutions, commented: “The evidence about drug driving that has emerged during recent years is worrying.

“Of course, it is not just illegal drugs that may seriously impair your ability on the road. Anyone taking medication from a pharmacist or doctor that could affect factors such as their reaction times is also a potential risk management issue.”

The panel’s conclusions could make way for a more formal approach to the whole subject of drug driving, added Neville.

He said: “Drink driving is relatively easy to enforce as a an area of risk management because there is a legal alcohol limit and a straight driving ban if you are caught.

“If similar laws can be introduced that cover drug driving, it would remove much of the cloudiness and elasticity that currently surrounds the issue.”

Road Safety Minister Mike Penning commented earlier in the week that tackling drug driving is important to protecting “some of the safest roads in the world”.

Mr Briggs urged fleets to think about adding drug driving to their risk management policies, even without “hard and fast rules”.

He concluded: “It should be made clear to employees that recreational drug use and business driving will be treated in a zero tolerance manner, and also that any doubts surrounding prescribed or over the counter medication should be raised so that further advice can be sought. Drivers need to take the subject seriously.”

Neville Briggs, MD of CFC Solutions, noted that in the last decade, there has been fewer drink-related incidents in the evening with an upwards shift of accidents the next morning.

Mr Briggs said that the ‘don’t drink and drive’ message has soaked in for most British drivers but added that fleet drivers should be aware of the implications of not complying.

“Over the years, we have made great strides forward in drink driving – for example, the number of drink drive deaths has fallen by around 75% since 1979,” he explained. “However, it is an area where there is always more that can be done and fleets have a major role to play.

“Managers need to make it clear that a drink driving conviction for a company driver will mean a loss of their job without question.”

Neville also believes that the dangers of morning after drinking should be highlighted: “There are widespread misconceptions about the amount of time that it takes for alcohol to leave the body and drivers need to know the facts.

“It is such an unnecessary risk to run for fleet drivers. Not only do they create a massively increased possibility of being involved in a serious accident but they also could lose their job and find it extremely difficult to get another.”

Recent research from insurance comparers Confused.com found that 1 in 8 motorists personally know someone currently driving without a license [link].

Although difficult to prove, this was still a revelation to Neville Briggs of CFC Solutions who commented: “These figures are actually quite shocking and, if accurate, indicate that the number of drivers taking to the road without a licence is much higher than we previously believed.”

Driving without insurance was concerning enough, said Mr Briggs, but not even be bothering with a licence displayed a growing disregard for motoring rules.

“If a licenceless driver is involved in an accident in their own vehicle on a private journey that causes serious injury then it is a tragedy,” he warned.

“However, if a licenceless driver is involved in the same type of accident on business then it is a severe failure of duty of care that could lead to major problems for your company. It is something that you cannot afford not to take seriously.”

Mr Briggs was thankful therefore that interest in licence-checking among fleets continued to be high.

“More and more fleets are taking the whole issue of licence checking seriously,” he continued, “but we still talk to large fleets every month where the issue is dealt in a manner than probably wouldn’t stand up in court.

“The good news is that awareness is increasing and most of these fleets are in dialogue with us over our License Link product because they know they have a licence checking issue and want to solve it.”

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We start with a news from IAM and their response to the recent transport select committee’s paper entitled ‘Out of the jam’ which aims to address reducing congestion on the roads by introducing tougher driving tests, better coordination between road management authorities and and an increased use in real-time information.

“This report recognises that drivers themselves can reduce delays. A more rigorous driving test with greater emphasis on driving in the real world would give new drivers the skills they need to help keep traffic moving. Giving learners more experience on high speed and rural roads would also save lives,” commented IAM director of policy and research Neil Greig.

The report also recognised that better understanding and deference from drivers of the Highways Code was also a main priority with a recommendation to consider the use of a Highway Code App.

Do you agree? Would this bring the Highway Code into the 21st century and be tax payers money well spent? And would this really make difference into the daily problem of congestion? We want to hear your views.

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Staying with IAM the road safety charity are calling on MEPs to force motorcycle manufacturers to make ABS on all new motorcycles over 125cc a standard feature.

Staggering statistics show that in 2010 fatalities involving motorcycle accidents accounted for 21 per cent of all road deaths and yet motorcyclists make up on 4 per cent of road users.

IAM also produced a report entitled ‘Licence to Skill’, which showed sudden breaking and slippery roads are in the top ten reasons for motorcycle road accidents.

“ABS is available now on many new bikes and the evidence is clear from across Europe that it is delivering fewer deaths. Carefully crafted legislation making ABS mandatory for all large road motorcycles would make motorcyclists safer, although we do still have concerns about the long term reliability of some ABS systems. On motorcycles ABS is still prone to faults because it is more open to the elements and repairs can be very expensive. Compulsory fitment will bring down unit costs and allow all riders to enjoy the safety benefits,” commented Neil Greig.

If you are a motorcyclist we would love to hear your views on this article. Do you welcome the fitting of ABS as standard or do you think this should be something for the rider to decide? Let us know.

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Now to IAM Drive and Survive who have launched a new fleet safety solution in the guise of an online Virtual Risk Manager® (VRM).

The online tool, designed by Interactive Driving Systems, works via an assessment that checks the risk of new employees and monitors existing staff, ensuring up to date training is flagged where needed, thereby constantly improving fleet safety and reducing avoidable costs such as insurance and compensation claims.

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Staying with IAM Drive and Survive their staff examiner Amanda Smith is giving this week’s tips aimed at keeping mums-to-be safe whilst driving for work.

“A lot of women don’t like the way belts feel but wearing a seatbelt while pregnant will not harm your baby, so buckle up before making your journey,” she says.

Her top tips are:

1. Wear the lap strap below your bump, as low as possible, from hip-bone to hip-bone. Keep the diagonal strap between your breasts, moving the strap around the side of your bump. Your seat belt is the only thing stopping you from flying forward and hitting your abdomen on the steering wheel so make sure you belt up;
2. You can move the seat back, as long as you adjust your mirrors accordingly and can reach the brake, accelerator and clutch. You can buy after-market pedal extenders for this purpose. Being an extra three inches away from the steering wheel makes a lot of difference in an accident;
3. If your employer doesn’t offer to do so, ask them to carry out a full risk assessment for your driving activity;
4. Make your contacts/customers aware of your pregnancy. Most people are tolerant and this will enable you to take the necessary extra care and time when you need it;
5. Plan for breaks on journeys (long and short) – check where you can do so safely in advance. Cramps in your legs are more likely when stuck in heavy traffic, so plan your journeys to avoid this or make sure you can take a break;
6. Don’t drive if you know that your condition means you cannot control your vehicle effectively. You must be in control of your vehicle to drive legally.

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CFC Solutions are warning of the temptation of new technology for those who’s cars are also their office and the dire consequences of misuse.

The new Toyota Yaris has come under scrutiny with its text-on-the-move abilities that Neville Briggs, managing director of CFC Solutions believes has the potential to distract driver’s focus away from the road.

“A lot of impressive new technology – from smart phones to mobile internet access – has become available to company car and van drivers over the last few years and created a genuine mobile office environment that has increased their productivity and flexibility considerably.

“Virtually all fleets have taken a hard line on mobile phone use while driving, with many banning it even if a proper hands free kit is fitted, and other devices such as in-car mobile texting should be similarly controlled.”

Briggs calls on all businesses to clearly spell out the risk of using such devices on the move stating risk management policies must include all new technology and address the possibility of distraction to employees.

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The UK’s first car club salary sacrifice scheme ‘Streetcar’ was launched this week, which offers low emission VW and BMW vehicles, either hourly or daily, in return for ‘trip codes’ that are obtained by employees who’s companies are signed up to the scheme by exchanging a portion of their pre-taxed salary.

“We’re delighted to offer this new scheme to businesses that want to provide a compelling incentive to their staff which combines the benefits of a company car scheme with the convenience and environmental advantages of a car club. In these turbulent economic times where salary increases are not always possible, we are excited to offer a tangible benefit to companies looking to reward their employees in other ways. We’re constantly looking for ways to help people move away from the expensive and inefficient model of individual car ownership, and this scheme helps to make car clubs even more affordable and attractive. By paying directly from gross salary, Streetcar usage is both cost effective and tax efficient," commented Mark Walker, Streetcar’s General Manager.

Vehicles can be booked online or over the phone giving as little as 30 minutes notice and each ‘trip code’ entitles the user to five hours of Streetcar usage with a smartcard provided to unlock the vehicle. Alternatively, the Streetcar’s iPhone app can be used by members to book, locate and even open their pre-booked car.

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Congratulations go to Europcar Scotland who have raised £3,473.21 for BEN, the automotive charity, by hosting a number of events right across Scotland beginning in June and ending at the Grande Finale at the end of August, which also provided those taking part with a barbecue and disco by way of a thank you for all their efforts.

“We are delighted to beat our target of £3,000 by over £400 and want to congratulate the whole team on all the effort they put into this worthy cause,” said Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar Group UK.

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And finally…

With October looming, so is Tyre Safety month and Tyresafe are as keen as mustard to prove the advantages in changing to winter tyres in the coming cold months by taking to their local ice skating rink, and you’re invited too!

The stunning demonstration in the difference between winter and standard tyres was set up and filmed, to show how winter tyres supersede standard tyres in safety performance once temperatures dip below minus 7 degrees Celsius; temperatures which are usually experienced in the UK between the months of October and March.

“For any driver concerned about their safety on the road during the winter, our advice is simple. Winter weather tyres are the safest option. Take a look at our demonstration movie and then you can make an informed choice about whether to fit them or not, but I’m sure many will agree that the results are scary and very convincing,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.

The film can be viewed at http://www.tyresafe.org/campaigns/tyre-safety-month-2011, where you can also get additional information and a downloadable leaflet all about the safety benefits of winter tyres. Details of your local ice skating rink’s opening times are, however, not provided.

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So that’s it for another week, we hope you have enjoyed our selection of stories from the last seven days and ask that if you have found any of them to be just a teensy informative or thought provoking that you share your ruminations with us in the comments box below. Until next week drive safely and let’s watch those leg warmers on the pedals…

Despite praising the leaps and bounds made with smartphones and mobile technology, Neville Briggs, MD of fleet management specialists CFC Solutions, believes they present unnecessary potential for distraction when attention should be focussed on the road.

Neville called for fleet bosses and employers to introduce protective measures to their risk management policies restricting the use of such technology.

“A lot of impressive new technology – from smart phones to mobile internet access – has become available to company car and van drivers over the last few years,” he explained.

“It created a genuine mobile office environment that has increased their productivity and flexibility considerably.

“However, there needs to be a clear directive spelled out in risk management policies that says these devices should not be used on the move.

“It is simply too dangerous, however carefully manufacturers and others work on integration with a car’s own systems. They will always be a distraction.”

Mr Briggs added that fleets should adapt the same tough approach previously employed regarding the use of mobile phone behind the wheel saying that other devices such as in-car mobile texting should be similarly controlled.

Acutely aware

It’d be interesting to learn what FleetDirectory’s Alisdair Suttie would make of Mr Briggs’ words.

In his weekly column last month, Alisdair went into great depth on how company car drivers can make considered choices when deciding to use or not use a mobile phone (with a hands-free kit) while at the wheel.

He wrote: “Business drivers are aware of how distracting a mobile phone call can be, even when it’s conducted by a hands-free device.

“Fleet managers are also acutely aware of the facts and any responsible fleet manager will make those driving company vehicles more than conscious of these facts and considerations.

“We agree mobile phone use can impair a driver’s ability at the wheel, but there are also a great many of us who know when it’s good to talk and when it’s good to shut up and leave the phone alone.”

The Vehicle Distance Exception report – added to CFC’s Fleet Plus and Fleet Horizon products – keeps track of each vehicle’s reported mileage throughout its time on a fleet and adjusts its recommended maintenance schedule accordingly.

The idea was suggested by a CFC customer after a significant portion of their fleet saw more action than expected.

Neville Briggs [pictured], Managing Director at CFC Solutions, explained the function’s main advantage: “If a vehicle covers 5,000 miles in a quarter rather than its normal 2,000, the software will automatically adjust parameters such as the ‘service due’ notification. This means that the employer continues to meet their maintenance compliance requirements.

“However, there is also the opposite to consider. If a car or van undergoes a reduction in mileage, then the maintenance requirements can be downgraded and unnecessary expenditure avoided. It is a worthwhile enhancement to our software.”

Visit cfcsolutions.co.uk for more info.

The Government proposed plans this weekend to relax rules regarding MOTs, so a vehicle’s first test would occur after four years then every two years thereafter, instead of the current three then every 12 months.

It has been touted by ministers as a move to ease the financial squeeze on motorists, however critics say it would have an adverse effect on road safety and cause the number of annual road deaths to rise by at least 50.

Garages who rely on income from annual MOTs have also slammed the idea, claiming their takings could plummet.

Commenting on the implications for risk management, Neville Briggs, MD of fleet management software specialist CFC Solutions, said: “Fleet managers who run a four year/80,000 mile cycle already know that the current, three year MOT will often pick up minor – and occasionally more significant – faults on a car that could be a contributory factor in an accident.

“A vehicle that has covered 60,000 miles in three years may have some problems.

“In an ideal world, these faults would be identified by the dealer as part of the general service and maintenance regime or by drivers undertaking regular, basic safety checks.

“But the overall condition of the vehicle is not their responsibility and the three year MOT remains an important point where a car or van receives a clean bill of health, just at the point in its life where it may be developing problems.”

Tiny plus

Andrew Howard, head of road safety at the Automobile Association, illustrated why less frequent MOTs would be a bad idea.

“A car can pass an MOT one day and develop a defect that would make it fail the next, but that would not be picked up for two years under this system. That’s a big risk,” he explained.

The SMMT’s Jonathan Visscher added that regular MOTs can point out potentially expensive problems in their early stages.

“Industry’s priority is to ensure vehicle safety is maintained to the highest possible standard. The Government’s proposals cannot be justified, especially when viewed in the light of the latest EU plans to reduce road deaths,” he said.

There would be a silver lining in reducing fleet operation costs admitted CFC’s Neville Briggs, but added that fleet bosses could be bullied into compromising risk management requirements.

“The expense of the three year MOT would be removed but seeing as the actual price of the test itself is quite low and that any resulting costs will normally be safety-related, this seems very much like a false economy,” he stated.

“Fleets have spent the last decade dramatically increasing the attention that they pay to issues such as safety and regular vehicle checks but this proposal would actually reduce their obligations.

“It is difficult to reconcile this with the health and safety requirements of comprehensive fleet risk management policies.”

What do you think? Would less frequent MOTs be a dangerous measure? Speak your mind in our comments section below or tweet us @FleetDirectory…

That is the advice of Neville Briggs, Managing Director of fleet software specialists CFC Solutions, who believes fleet drivers that sit on the 12-point suspension threshold can create a myriad of problems for fleet operators.

One driver from Blackburn who had totted-up 30 points managed to continue driving legally after convincing a judge that revoking their licence would cause “exceptional hardship”.

“The rule is normally that 12 points result in an immediate ban but by pleading ‘exceptional hardship’ to a magistrate, which could bring consequences such as loss of a job, some drivers keep their licences,” explained Neville.

“Thankfully, this is a fairly rare occurrence but it does prompt a question for fleet managers that could create a managerial headache.

“Do you continue to employ a driver with more than 12 points because they represent such a risk to your company and, also, would it be legal for you to dismiss them?”

A mockery

The BBC recently revealed that 436 people in Lancashire and South Cumbria have 12 or more points on their licences but have not been banned from driving. The matter is out of the DVLA’s hands and is dealt with by the courts.

Road safety charity Road Peace claim that the “shocking” finding made a mockery of the points system.

Mr Briggs added that fleet bosses can avoid a legal tangle by including a clause that outlines with the maximum penalty points tolerated before they are let go.

“Probably the best way for fleet managers to circumvent this problem is by writing something into employee contracts stipulating that there is an option to dismiss an employee if they rack up more than 12 points,” advised Neville.

“Certainly, if you continued to employ a driver who racked up, for example, 15-20 points and that person then caused a serious accident, you would probably be on shaky ground from a duty of care point of view. That person is a known high risk.”

Neville Briggs was named Managing Director of fleet software developers CFC Solutions

FleetDirectory: What are the biggest challenges facing fleet managers today?

Neville Briggs: The recession refocused attention on the company car as a business tool.

Therefore, for the majority of fleet managers, the key challenge in a difficult, post-recession environment is to deliver the best value business transport solution – whether car, van or truck – while meeting all risk management, environmental, taxation and human resources requirements to the highest extent possible. It’s a tough brief.

FD: You recently praised fleet bosses for their part in reducing the annual number of road deaths [story link]. What do you feel has triggered this shift in attitudes and what do you believe can be done in the short and long term to further improve road safety?

Neville: The HSE’s report, Driving at Work, was the kicking-off point for virtually all fleet interest in safety.

What it has done in a surprisingly large number of companies – and we see this through users of our Licence Link software – is serve to create something approaching a genuine safety culture rather than just a legal box-ticking exercise.

Looking forward, further improvements in safety will come from all kinds of sources – from technology, from education and probably from legislation too.

FD: Where do you sit in the debate on increasing the national motorway speed limit to 80mph?

Neville: The fact is that, on most motorway journeys, travelling at much over 70mph is not possible on long sections of road due to the volume of traffic, so it is largely an academic question.

However, if pushed, I think that I am against increasing the limit purely because travelling at 80mph instead of 70mph leads to an increase in fuel use of around 10-20%, even without starting to look at safety and environmental considerations.

FD: CFC Solutions revealed figures earlier this year that suggested the number of driving offences committed by company car drivers vary from month to month, sitting between 7-9% [link to full story]. Do you agree that this shows a need for more driver education?

Neville: We were actually surprised that the figures showed so little variation from month to month – we thought that seasonal work and social travel variations across the year would produce marked peaks and troughs.

Our best estimate is that these factors balance out over the course of a year to level out the number of offences.

FD: With 2011 often being hailed as ‘the year of the electric car’, why do you think fleet managers aren’t embracing EVs as much as some expected?

Neville: Pure electric cars are going to have a limited application for most fleets because of range. A practical limit of less than 100 miles before a major recharge is just not enough for most job-need drivers to commute and complete their business travel.

The big change, we believe, will come with plug-in hybrids, which add a huge degree of flexibility. That is the point at which fleet managers will start to bite, probably starting with the Chevrolet Volt and Vauxhall Ampera [pictured].

It has been improving incrementally for many years but electric vehicle development is limited almost entirely by battery technology.

FD: Do you feel manufacturers are doing enough to produce vehicles that effectively limit overheads for fleet operators?

Neville: Probably the biggest improvements in fleet operating costs in recent years have come from two sources.

One is increased service intervals – not too long ago, 6,000 mile services were common, thanks to factors such as improved lubrication technology; the other is the reduction in fuel use that has been inadvertently prompted by legislative and taxation measures to cut CO2.

FD: Finally, what lies ahead for CFC Solutions? How do you expect the company to progress and what can we expect to see from you in coming months?

Neville: CFC has a track record of delivering highly effective fleet management software that stretches back more than three decades and we expect to continue this into the future.

This is the view of Neville Briggs, Managing Director at fleet software specialists CFC Solutions, who believes that despite current EVs not being able to stack up as effective fleet additions, could still shake up how companies view business travel.

“Electric vehicles are likely to have only a minor role on fleets in the short-medium term because of their short range,” he reckons.

“However, the range issue does start to prompt some interesting questions.

“What range limitations may do is force fleet managers to start to think about individual journeys and, in doing so, start to consider journey management.”

Restrictions

Mr Briggs adds that while a fleet made up of conventional models poses few restrictions to how it operates, an EV would give a fleet boss no choice but to look at the effect of every journey.

“There are few constraints made on distances, number of locations or timing with conventional company vehicles,” he added.

“However, an EV forces the fleet manager to consider the impact of a single journey. And, once that process starts, it can open other doors.”

Neville said it could prompt more car sharing, a greater use of public transport or even cycling, similar to how the recession had forced businesses into reconsidering business transport.

He continues: “There is a possibility that EVs could start the perhaps long-overdue process of more fleet managers becoming business travel managers.”

Expressing disappointment that “the controls seem to have largely slipped away” in the past year, he concluded: “Our view is very much that this is an unfortunately neglected area of fleet management and that if EVs prompt more interest in journey management, it would lead to cost savings for a wide range of companies with differing transport needs.”

That’s the view of Neville Briggs, MD of CFC Solutions, who believes that a focus on safety and successful risk policies put in place by fleet bosses have contributed towards capping road deaths last year to 1,857 [full story].

In the same breath, Mr Briggs urged fleet operators not to rest on their laurels and view the achievement as an encouraging catalyst towards a lower death toll for 2011.

“These are excellent figures,” commented Neville, “but they should not be seen as a sign that fleets can start to relax when it comes to the issue of safety.

“Instead, there is a strong possibility that the risk management policies that have been adopted in recent years have made a contribution to these results.”

Box-tickers

Safety has taken centre stage for many a fleet in recent years, added Mr Briggs.

“There are, of course, fleets for whom risk management remains a box-ticking exercise but there are many others that have generated a high level of interest in the subject of safety at all levels from management to drivers,” he explained.

“It is now eight years since the ground breaking ‘Driving at Work’ fleet risk guidance was released by the Health and Safety Executive and during that time fleet treatment of the issue of safety has changed beyond all recognition.

“The challenge now is to play a part in driving the figures for death and injury on the roads lower still.”