Since the 16th of this month, Police powers in relation to ‘on the spot’ penalties/fines have been increased to include those drivers who drive carelessly or fail to consider other road users. This will take into account those motorists who tailgate, fail to indicate or who exercise poor lane management (amongst other offences). At the same time, fines for using mobiles phones and failing to wear a seatbelt will increase to £100.
Company Car Drivers in Police Sights
Much of the changes are about providing the police with sufficient powers to monitor less serious offences which would otherwise be ignored or, alternatively, escalated to our already clogged courts. It is also hoped that motorists will now appreciate the severity of poor road behaviour and the impending consequences.
From a fleet management perspective, this is quite interesting as the new changes were launched in and around the time a new fleet report from the road safety charity, Brake, was published. The report forms part of a campaign to improve safety and environmental awareness, by looking at the risks brought about by inappropriate speed and approaches to driving by fleet drivers.
While a high proportion of fleet managers surveyed did say they positively promote good driving education with their drivers, there is still a great deal of work that can be done to improve fleet approaches to driver/road/pedestrian safety. As many company car drivers can cover between 25,000 to 40,000 miles per annum on a high mileage lease, it is important that steps are taken to monitor their driving, such as on-board technology or driver training. Where company car drivers fail to adhere to this, they risk the points/fines which police now have to combat these types of drivers.
Drive safely and try not to follow the example below….
Company Car Users are Not to Copy Jeremy…
