June 2008

Dangerous company car drivers could put one in two firms in court

One in two UK companies is in serious risk of court action because of dangerous driving by its executives.

Data from three different recent surveys has revealed that executives with company cars are the most dangerous drivers in the UK.

Yet less than half of all firms have policies in place to protect their employees, and their own leaders against recent corporate manslaughter legislation.

The founder of road safety website BetterDrivingPlease.com is calling on MDs and CEOs to take urgent action now to protect their businesses.

Andrew McGavin set up the site which has received 13,500 reports of dangerous driving from the public across the UK.

He said: “New corporate manslaughter legislation came into force in April which links a company’s guilt to
the gross negligence of an individual who is said to embody the company.

“What that means in practice is if an executive driving on business is using a handheld mobile phone and kills someone, the MD or CEO could be prosecuted for not giving them a hands free kit and having a relevant policy in place.”

Andrew added: “Responsible business leaders need to take action immediately to educate their drivers about the need for safer driving and the consequences if they break the rules.”

Three recent surveys have revealed the dangers faced by companies.

An RAC study showed that business drivers are twice as likely to be involved in an accident compared to other drivers.

A Vansunited survey of 1,000 drivers found distracted company executives are considered the most dangerous drivers in the UK.

And a YouGov survey of UK financial directors and chief financial officers, commissioned by Lex, discovered less than half of businesses had policies in place to protect employees who drive on business.

Anyone who spots an offence being committed on the roads can report it to BetterDrivingPlease.com.

The number plates and details of the 13,500 incidents reported so far are available for anyone to see.

ENDS

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

• For any further information, quotes or interviews, a BetterDrivingPlease.com spokesman is available. Please email press@publicityheaven.com or call Paul Green on 08452 303049
• To find specific reports of bad driving, go to www.BetterDrivingPlease.com and enter the area in the Keyword search box
• You are welcome to publish any information you find on the website
• A factfile, logo, screenshots and other press resources are available online at http://www.betterdrivingplease.com/press.asp