After the company car or cash question has been answered, as a small or medium business, you then need to consider the subject of corporate culpability.
Forgetting about it is the easiest thing to do in a busy schedule, but a little organisation can cure the issue. Training companies now provide driver training on line with systems that are very similar to the hazard perception tests that are part of the driving licence. Added in are things such as understanding the car, how it functions and how to keep it safe. This will include drive assessment.
Not doing anything about it is not the cure. If a member of staff is involved in a serious accident and is at fault, the effect on the business are very serious. Health and Safety will lead the investigation and any prosecution, if you have carried out a driver assessment on line, step one of ensuring that you have done everything that you can is in place.
Don’t get me wrong, this is not about passing the buck, but in fact driver assessment and training can lead to reduced insurance premiums and will lead to reduced accidents. Training as part of the course is targeted at the weaknesses of the driver tested and takes care of your obligation to act on the findings of any assessment. But, ensure that you are fully aware of the results of assessments taken, failure to be involved at this stage is an offence in its own right and in the event of a serious accident could lead to a charge of corporate manslaughter.
Carrying out the above and setting in place a robust safety checking schedule where you have a company car scheme is great, but it is absolutely imperative that you record everything so that you can prove you acted properly.
