The first prosecution under new corporate manslaughter laws will involve a driver on company business accidentally killing someone on the UK’s roads.

That’s the prediction of road safety campaigner Andrew McGavin, for when the law comes into force on April 6th.

He runs BetterDrivingPlease.com, a website where anyone can report bad driving they see on our roads. More than 10,000 reports have already been added.

And Andrew believes company drivers are the weakest parts of many business’s health & safety plans.

He said: “The new law clearly links the way a company acts with the consequences, and allows a prosecution to be brought against the person who embodies the company, such as its managing director or chief executive.

“It’s estimated one in three of all road accidents involves a company vehicle, or someone driving on business. I think it will only be a matter of time before a company is held to be legally responsible for the actions of one of its employees on the roads.”

Andrew said every business needs to have clear simple policies in place to set out acceptable standards of driving while on company business.

And they need to be rigorously enforced with clear penalties.

He added: “BetterDrivingPlease.com has an increasing number of reports of drivers in branded company vehicles spotted using a handheld mobile phone or driving dangerously.

“Responsible companies that want to protect themselves and their directors must demonstrate to employees that they will keep them legal, such as by providing hands free kits, but will severely punish if laws are broken.”

The new Corporate Manslaughter Act which comes into force on 6th April aims to reduce the number of accidents.

It creates the new statutory offence in England, Wales and Northern Ireland of "corporate manslaughter", and in Scotland of "corporate homicide".

Companies and government bodies face prosecution if they are found to have caused a person's death due to their corporate health and safety failings.

.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
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