Across the pond: On-line safety audits

A recently launched benchmarking website for fleet managers in Great Britain has revealed that more than one-third (35%) of fleet operators there do not fully comply with all relevant corporate and regulatory requirements relating to fleet safety, according to a report issued by the Fleet Safety Forum (www.brake.org.uk) in partnership with risk management specialists Interactive Driving Systems (www.virtualriskmanager.net).

Although regulations for British fleets are not identical to those in the U.S., the on-line safety audit process may be of interest to fleet safety managers here because it offers a different approach and a new perspective on improving truck fleet safety.

Funded by the UK Department for Transport, the website allows companies to anonymously compare their fleet safety procedures and crash data with that of other companies to help them identify potentially life-saving improvements.

The report’s findings also indicate:

• Only 44% of companies optimized work schedules and travel requirements to minimize road risks and to encourage compliance with speed limits, working time regulations, road safety laws and to avoid the times of day when falling asleep at the wheel is most likely.

• Just 54% of companies gave all new employees a formal induction, which covered policy, equipment familiarization, collision and fuel reporting, emergency procedures, vehicle checking/maintenance and the importance of safety for brand reputation.

• Only 58% of companies had a system in place to maintain driver records, including medical/health information, reference and license checks, training records and qualifications, collision history and fuel efficiency.

According to the report, more than 170 fleet managers have signed up for the Fleet Safety Benchmarking project and completed the ten-question Fleet Safety Audit.