Fleet Risk Consultants

What makes a perfectly sane and intelligent person think that they can defy the laws of Physics?

I am talking about the belief that some people have that in an impact they will be able sit in their seat without moving.  Here in the UK it is illegal to travel in a vehicle without wearing a seat belt, if one is fitted in the vehicle.  This includes lorries, which do have seat belts fitted now.

I have met lorry drivers who wear their seat belts in their cars, but then don’t wear the seat belt in the lorry.  Now I fail to see the logic in that situation, do they really think that the laws of Physics don’t apply in a truck?

What drivers who choose not to wear a seat belt fail to appreciate is the law of attraction between their head and the windscreen.  In a collision the driver will be propelled forwards with a huge force and you will impact on something hard that will hurt.

The video produced by the Department for Transport call ‘Backwards’ says it all.

As a collision investigator I have seen the aftermath of collisions and those where the occupants have not been wearing their seat belts are horrific.

It may also have an effect on any injury compensation that you may be entitled to if you are not to blame for the collision.  This article by Chris Lodge explains it in more detail.

Also if you have employees driving on behalf of your business you had better have a policy statement that tells drivers they must wear seat belts and ensure passengers are properly secured, and you had better enforce that policy or you may face an investigation under Corporate Manslaughter Legislation.

Nigel Grainger

Senior Consultant

Fleet Risk Consultants

When I am driving along the roads of the UK I am always aware of the vehicles around me.  I observe the style of the driving and what the driver is doing in addition to driving.  I have started to notice a bit of a trend and it is making me rather cross on a number of levels.

The trend I have noticed is that the more expensive the car the more likely that the driver will be using a hand-held mobile phone.  The main culprits seem to be Range Rover drivers, and this is where I get a bit confused.  These people have just spent between £37,000 and £70,000 on a car and have been unable to invest £25.00 in a bluetooth headset, perhaps it is me but this seems totally illogical.  I am not aware of any technology, yet, on vehicles that allows the vehicle to drive itself whilst the driver is occupied on another task.  So these drivers on hand-held mobile phones are clearly the most skillful drivers on the road or the most stupid.

What also strikes me a being rather stupid is the cost of £25.00 for a bluetooth headset, against a £60.00 fine and 3 penalty points for being caught driving whilst using a mobile phone.  That is if the driver is lucky enough to get away with just a fine and points, instead of a serious injury or worse.

I am not saying that using a hands-free mobile phone is that much safer, but it is not specifically illegal.  The studies show that the use of a hands-free mobile phone makes the drivers reaction times slower than a similar driver at the legal drink drive limit for the UK.  This means that even a hands-free mobile phone is not really a safe option either.

We advise companies on the best solution for their business, but we always advise against the use of mobile phones whilst driving wherever possible.

If you are concerned about whether your business is sending drivers out without the right information, you can give us a call and we will undertake a FREE heath check for your business.

And if you are one of those idiotic drivers using a hand-held mobile phone, all I can say is ‘Save your life’ get a bluetooth, in fact I am so keen to make you safer I shall give a bluetooth headset to the first five businesses in the UK that apply for a FREE Health Check today.  Just enter ‘BLUETOOTH’ onto the contact form on our website.

Nigel Grainger

Senior Consultant

Fleet Risk Consultants