March 2008

Most businesses aren’t ready for new corporate manslaughter law

The majority of the UK’s businesses haven’t prepared properly for the new corporate manslaughter law – and are most at risk of prosecution from accidents on the UK’s roads.

Road safety campaigner Andrew McGavin believes few businesses are aware of the new law which comes into force on Sunday (April 6th).

And he says the weakest point for most firms is the actions of company drivers, proved by an increasing number of corporate reports on his website BetterDrivingPlease.com.

Already more than a hundred out of the 10,000 reports on the site involve a branded company vehicle. Thousands more are estimated to involve company car drivers.

Andrew said the new law is serious and could see company directors jailed.

He said: “The new law makes the link between the way a company acts, the consequences of those actions, and the person who embodies the company. It allows a prosecution to be made against that person.

“I believe we will see companies pursued if it is proved they didn’t take steps to protect their employees on the roads, such as by giving them suitable hands free car kits.

“But it is a lot more likely that the actions of an employee while driving that lead to the death of someone on the UK’s roads could see company directors in the dock.”

The new Corporate Manslaughter Act 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.

Andrew added: “This is a serious law and all businesses, large and small, need to take urgent action. I fear it will take another tragedy on the roads until awareness is high enough.”

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