October 2024

Each month we will be sharing our monthly Fleet Safety Focus Update with you in advance of the launch date, so that as part of your partner commitment you can raise awareness among your colleagues, members, and supply chains in your internal and external communications, blogs, social posts, emails and newsletters.

You can signpost this month’s resources by sharing this link: Fleet Safety Focus – Vehicle Roadworthiness

If you’d like to use our wording for your communications, please feel free to copy and paste the text below:

Copy and paste the text below and use in your emails and newsletters – please ensure the links in the copy are live and signposting to: https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/fleet-safety-focus-monthly-update/vehicle-roadworthiness

Driving for Better Business – new fleet safety focus update

Vehicle Roadworthiness – does everyone understand their responsibilities?

The legislation on vehicle roadworthiness is very clear – your vehicle must be safe and roadworthy at all times.

It’s also important to know that the law applies to both the driver and the operator – they are what as known as jointly and severally liable. In other words, the employee (the driver) and the employer (the operator) have joint responsibility for vehicle roadworthiness.

There are many vehicles on our roads that are simply not roadworthy. Up to a third of all vans will fail an MOT on first inspection – on lights, tyres, suspensions or brakes. If these essential areas are not given a cursory check before an MOT, are they being checked at all?

Driving for Better Business in collaboration with the National Highways Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team are providing free to access resources to help those who manage and employ drivers. Their Fleet Safety Focus Updates cover an important area every month. This month’s update focuses on Vehicle Roadworthiness.

It includes a link to download a file of useful resources for you to share with your drivers, including:

• An article on vehicle checks and vehicle roadworthiness.
  
• Short messages on speed for sharing through PDAs
  
• Roadworthiness poster for your notice boards
  
• 10-min pre-recorded toolbox talk video
  
• PDF factsheet  

Access this month’s Fleet Safety Focus here.