Fleets leasing cars and vans with an inclusive maintenance package need to put robust systems in place to ensure the work is actually being carried out.
The warning comes from fleet software specialist FleetCheck, which says that it’s increasingly coming across fleets, in particular SMEs, where leasing companies and employers assume that drivers are correctly carrying out maintenance without realising that drivers are often waiting to be prompted and sometimes even ignoring service reminders.
Managing director Peter Golding said: “If a serious accident occurs and an improperly maintained vehicle is part of the reason that it happened, then the owners and directors of the business will be at fault and could be given a custodial sentence. It’s a very serious matter.
“Essentially, the managers of these businesses have handed a huge responsibility to their drivers without putting any systems in place to ensure that they are meeting fundamental legal responsibilities.”
