The research, carried out amongst 300 businesses with vans, revealed three main areas of concern in the way businesses manage their vans: poor admin in relation to the paperwork for drivers and vehicles; unchecked damage to van bodywork and windscreens; and a casual attitude to core maintenance required to keep vehicles safe.
Darrell Sansom, managing director at AXA Business Insurance, said: ‘Corporate Manslaughter is a very serious charge that carries an unlimited fine. While the number of businesses who are simply unaware of its existence is alarming, our research shows that negligence is apparent among those who are both aware and unaware. We want to warn businesses that keeping on top of relevant HSE legislation is vital to avoid leaving themselves exposed.’
Key findings of the research revealed:
Poor admin
- Three in ten companies have not checked the insurance details for those driving their company vans.
- 8% of companies have failed to check whether those driving the company van hold a valid driver's licence.
- 85% of those interviewed were confident that their company van(s)' MOTs are up to date – leaving 15% who weren't.
- 6% "don't know" who is responsible for the servicing of the company van(s).
State of (un)repair
- 46% of company vans carry minor, and probably insignificant scratches/dents, but a further 25% have medium sized dents and 14% have large and unassessed areas of damage that could potentially affect the safety of the van.
- 22% have unrepaired damage to exhausts bumpers or mirrors.
- 55% have chips in their windscreen – something that is easily fixed but left unattended can lead to serious issues with driver visibility.
A lack of maintenance
- 9% of those questioned serviced their vehicles less than once a year and a further 6% never do so.
- More than one in ten (12%) checked tyre pressure and tread just once a year or even less. And 5% never do it.
- Fluid levels (oil and water) are left unchecked for a year or more by 15% with another 6% never checking. Only one in three will top up the anti-freeze when winter weather sets in.
- One in four test the brake function/fluid of their van just once a year or less.
Sansom concluded: ‘Sadly as an insurer, we all too often see the results of people failing to comply with rules and regulations designed to keep road-users safe. And while we know that often there is no intent to break the rules we also know that complacency can carry a very heavy price-tag.’
