Fleet Risk Consultants

Driving is much like everything else in life, if you try and rush it you will make mistakes.

Also if you don’t follow the rules you will get into trouble.

Speed limits are an arbitrary way of regulating the pace at which vehicles travel along the roads, they don’t take into account and variations from day to day or hour to hour.

It is completely irrelevant whether I agree or disagree with the speeds set, but it is beyond discussion that they must be obeyed.

It is an overlooked fact that any business running lorries has signed a legal document specifically stating that drivers will obey the speed limits. It doesn’t say “drivers of HGV’s” it says “drivers”.

This means that a speeding offence ‘could’ cost you your operators licence, even if you don’t run trucks these offences could spell disaster if at some point later a collision occurred and speed was a factor. The records would show you had know that speed was an issued within your business and that you had done nothing about it.

So, speed is not a good thing on the roads or in normal working either.

You need to have a clear policy on your approach to speed and that needs to be communicated to your staff. Breaches of this policy should be dealt with through the disciplinary channels.

If you need help planning a policy or implementing one please give the team a call on 01623 675833.

Nigel Grainger
Managing Director

Fleet Risk Consultants.

So Chris Huhne and Vicky Pryce have gone to prison for sharing out the speeding points, apparently this is news.

Anyone involved in the fleet industry is aware that this happens quite a lot, so we have systems in place to check the licences of our employees and monitor those drivers we know are likely to do such things.

We also warn them of the consequences of such actions.

I am reminded of a conversation I had with a very senior manager in a company.

He called em and said he had received a Notice of Intended Prosecution from the transport team at Head Office. Did I know whether the camera was front or rear facing (I drove that route myself rather a lot too)? Also did I know whether a camera can identify the driver or not?

My response was this – Firstly, if you are thinking of lying about who was driving I suggest you think again as it is a prisonable offence to do that. Secondly I am one of the people who will be disciplining you for doing that and you have just given me a heads up about your intentions, so I will be looking for your licence to show an extra 3 points at the next 3 month licence check.

Any smart employer will be checking the licences of their employees, regardless of who owns the car, at least every six months.

Don’t be a party to any perjury yourself as you might be joining your employee and their points taker in court too.

If you want to know why and how to check licences please give the team a call on 01623 675833

Nigel Grainger
Managing Director
Fleet Risk COnsultants