Support for Businesses

We also support businesses, large or small, that employ drivers. If you run or work for such a business, the following figures may be of interest to you.

• UK businesses lose £2.7 billion per year as a consequence of at work traffic accidents. (Source: www.hse.gov.uk)
• 65% of road traffic accidents involve a vehicle driven on company business. (Source: www.ukroadsafety.co.uk)
• The average cost of repairing a crash-damaged vehicle is between £750 and £4,500. (Source: www.roadsafe.com)

The Benefit to Your Business

Encouraging your company's drivers to use lower speeds could produce the following benefits:

• Improved fuel consumption.
• Fewer collisions resulting in lower repair bills.
• Lower insurance premiums.
• Reduced stress levels - resulting in less time off work, higher staff retention, motivation and commitment.
• Lower vehicle maintenance costs.
• Less time wasted on related administration.

Understanding the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007

The Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 came into force on the 6th April 2008 across the UK. The Act sets out a new offence for convicting an organisation where a gross failure in the way activities were managed or organised, results in a person’s death. Under a new approach, the Courts will look at management systems and practices across the organisation, providing a more effective means for prosecuting the worst corporate failures to manage health and safety properly.

This is an opportunity for employers to think again about how risks are managed. Organisations should ensure they are taking proper steps to meet current legal duties. From April 2008 this Act will mean that those who disregard the safety of others at work, with fatal consequences, are more vulnerable to very serious criminal charges.

Who will be prosecuted for the offence?

The offence is aimed at cases where management failures lie across an organisation and it is the organisation itself that will face prosecution. However, individuals can already be prosecuted for gross negligence, manslaughter / culpable homicide and for health & safety offences. The Act does not change this and prosecutions against individuals will continue to be taken where there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to do so.

Penalties

An organisation guilty of the offence will be liable to an unlimited fine. The Act also provides for courts to impose a publicity order requiring the organisation to publicise details of its conviction and fine. Courts may also require an organisation to take steps to address the failures behind the death (a remedial order).

Speed Choice can help your business with its responsibilities to its drivers.

If you would like further details of our operation, please use this contact form.