Grey fleet vehicles (privately owned cars used by employees for work purposes) are a critical yet often overlooked part of many organisations business driver population. They pose significant risks and responsibilities which require procedures and controls to manage effectively. Grey Fleet management is essential not only for legal compliance.
With nearly 130,000 road incidents reported in Britain alone in 2024, with the country in the midst of a projected shortage of 200,000 HGV drivers, and insurance and maintenance costs climbing steadily — the business case for AI-powered safety has never been stronger.
While policies, technology and training all play essential roles, the single most influential factor in shaping safe driving behaviours is managerial leadership. When managers understand their responsibilities and appreciate the extent of their influence, safety performance improves. When they don’t, organisations face preventable incidents, rising costs, and increased risk exposure.
What separates high performing fleets from the rest isn’t whether incidents occur, but how effectively they respond. Fast, accurate reporting is the difference between controlled outcomes and spiralling costs. Speed without accuracy is insufficient. Incomplete FNOL reports force insurers and fleet teams to chase missing information.
One of the big myths in our industry is that there is no legislation that covers the duties of van and car drivers. When we run HGV fleets, we are very aware of the legislation and strive to be compliant. If we run mixed fleets, but what about our car and van drivers?
Across the fleet sector, psychological safety is increasingly cited at conferences and in fleet safety features as a lever for reducing work-related road traffic collisions. Yet many discussions stop short of explaining how it actually influences driver behaviour and safety outcomes.
Fitness to drive is defined by minimum medical standards set by the DVLA. A driver may feel broadly well, function normally day to day, and still fall outside the DVLA’s medical standards without realising it. From a road safety perspective, this creates a legal risk that exists long before it becomes visible.
Vehicle health checks are crucial before heading out on the road. They impact not only the health and safety of the driver but also other road users, yet not enough emphasis is placed on carrying out these health checks with the person controlling the vehicle; the driver.
According to the Office for National Statistics, around 32% of UK adults have high blood pressure, yet nearly 30% of those remain undiagnosed. That’s 4–5 million people in England alone – many of whom may be behind the wheel every day.
This month’s article on Vehicle Security, for those who manage drivers, comes to us from Matthew Avery, Director of Strategic Development at Euro NCAP Vehicle Safety - your fleet COVID – remember that? It has made a huge impact on the way we live and work, and one such change has been the rise
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