Chevin forms first fleet safety advisory panel

Fleet management systems specialist Chevin Fleet Solutions has taken the pioneering step of forming its own fleet safety 'think tank', in an attempt to take the fleet industry several steps further forward in terms of accident and risk reduction. The Chevin Fleet Safety Advisory Panel will pool the expertise of the best-known names in fleet road safety, to help Chevin customers meet their legal ‘duty of care’. The panel will consist of:- - Adrian Walsh, secretary and director of safety partnership RoadSafe - David Ward, director general of the FIA Foundation - George Emmerson, top consultant and founder of Fleet 21 - Ashley Sowerby, managing director of Chevin. Mr. Sowerby said: "The use of computer systems is now almost universal in UK fleet management, and many fleet operators, particularly the less experienced ones, look to their computer systems to provide an operational 'template'. At a time when fleet managers need to do their utmost to meet their duty of care responsibilities, we feel it’s the software industry’s duty to provide systems which encourage proper and comprehensive safety record-keeping from the word go. "Though most packages these days can be tailored to suit individual fleets’ requirements, we’re aware that when it comes to driver assessments, and recording items such as insurance and licence details, it’s best if companies like Chevin can provide something which works 'straight out of the box' and both guides and teaches users to adopt the right record-keeping habits. In order to do this effectively we've assembled the Chevin Fleet Safety Advisory Panel – a real first for the UK fleet industry - to ensure every area is covered fully, and that developments in terms of safety and legal requirements are kept up with. "The important thing here is encouraging fleet managers to ask the right questions which can very often save lives. As an example, should ALL accidents being reported, including in drivers' own vehicles? Very often they’re not, but for instance knowing that a driver has just had an accident in his own or someone else’s private car – something which would otherwise not reach the fleet manager’s ears - might ring alarm bells and make those responsible think twice about that driver’s abilities, whether they need training, a less powerful vehicle, or perhaps in some cases no vehicle at all!" George Emmerson, who has led a number of safety seminars for Chevin said: "It was clear from these successful events and others we’ve staged, that there is a desperate desire for sound informed professional advice on issues raised by the Duty of Care legislation. "A major source of concern to companies is: what does the person managing the fleet on a day-to-day basis have to do to comply with the requirements of the legislation? On this basis Chevin’s Advisory Panel will be a really positive step forward in the effort to assist those who need it most". RoadSafe’s Adrian Walsh added: "The key to successful fleet risk management is managing people - not their driving skill, but their whole approach to using the road and making best use of their time. It’s not just about recording accidents: it’s also about near-misses, calculating risk and reporting poor roads. Tired, distracted or pressured drivers are those most at risk. Add to this a safe modern car and your risk will be reduced - good software will be needed to support such good practice."