Small fleets not learning accident lessons

Just over one in ten operators of small fleets have failed to learn the lessons from the case of a van driver who caused a fatal accident when he fell asleep at the wheel.

That’s the shock finding of new research that has revealed 88% of fleet brokers have received no enquiries from customers on how to combat driver tiredness.

The case of Michael Eyres, who was left paralysed by the accident, hit the headlines earlier this year when he sued his employer for asking him to drive without enough rest.

At the time, the case was expected to act as a warning to firms that fail to take road safety seriously.

But the survey of brokers by a leading funding provider shows that among small fleets - especially those which only have one or two vehicles - duty-of-care issues such as driver tiredness can often be pushed to one side.

The figures also show that these firms aren’t making the most of their most valuable source of advice on these issues – the experienced brokers that provide their vehicles.

Often, it can be as simple as having a well-communicated fleet safety policy, but unless companies are asking the right questions, the duty of care situation in small fleets won’t improve, said a spokesman for the funding provider, Network.