The Corporate Manslaughter Act - Worth The Risk?

Not only will Chevin's fleet management software be able to save money and improve efficiency for fleet operators, it will help minimise the risks associated with the recent corporate manslaughter legislation in a number of ways. Chevin’s systems will quickly and proactively identify potential 'rogue' vehicles and drivers by exception, provide a clearly identifiable documentation audit trail and offer accurate reports on all aspects of data that a potential investigation would need to see. A well-maintained management information system is an invaluable tool for transport operators and will record the most relevant and up-to-date vehicle, driver and journey data about the fleet operation, providing accurate and easy-to-read analysis. To help ensure compliance with the legislation, Chevin’s fleet management systems will assist with their ability to store information and provide functionality on a number of crucial issues, including:  Employee owned cars - insurance certificates, MOT and road tax inspections  Vehicle safety checks - automatic inspection reminders sent out via email, SMS text message or post  Drivers hours - recording each driver's hours and highlighting those over the recommended limits  Vehicle safety - safety features, NCAP ratings and reports to compare safety records  Insurance categories - limiting categories to certain age groups  Eye test information - including reminders  Driver training and appraisals - including possible training requirements  Health checks and screening - requests can be sent out automatically via mail or email  Car user's handbook – details of when they were signed and who signed them  Driver licence inspections  Online accident reporting Systems can also be used to access the most up-to-date service, maintenance and repair information about a fleet, should a business vehicle be involved in an incident. And with the increase in mobile working practices, Chevin’s FleetWave® software provides some additional functionality for transport operations to help minimise their exposure to risk. By leveraging FleetWave's uniquely flexible architecture, drivers can now use an internet-enabled PDA or smart-phone to perform vehicle circle inspections, notifying supervisors or shop personnel of any safety related defects - whilst maintaining and displaying inspection histories should the need arise. This updates FleetWave® in real time, so that managers have instant access to the most accurate and timely information about their transport operation and also instant visibility of any missed inspections or services. Where defects are found, these are immediately fed back to the transport manager for rectification and a DO NOT DRIVE message can be given to the driver. The message will persist, until the defect has been reviewed by a responsible person. The need to record daily driver inspections, even when no defects are found, is seen as best-practice by the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) and Chevin's fleet software has been formally recognised by VOSA as fully compliant with the conditions set out in its, "Guide to Maintaining Road Worthiness." As well as correct vehicle information, holding accurate and relevant personal data about the drivers of the vehicles themselves and quick identification of any 'rogue' drivers is an essential element to any fleet management software system. Chevin offers a suite of driver licence checking tools, including online verification that drivers hold valid current licences for the vehicles they drive. The information gathered by these checks can then be used to identify 'at-risk' drivers and offers the user:  Easy-to-read reports  Improved accuracy  Easier compliance for drivers  Reduced administrative burden  Secure access by authorised users only  Full compliance with Data Protection requirements  Data integration with risk management / driver assessment solutions  Data integration with HR systems Another associated option is a driver risk assessment module, which will automatically select drivers for on-line assessments. This module will identify areas of low, medium and high risk within the transport operation, using a combination of driver information, their role and general road knowledge. The results of the assessment are then displayed in a highly visual, traffic-light coloured summary report, so that individual 'at-risk' drivers can be easily identified for further training and support. A comprehensive and well-maintained fleet management system from Chevin will; assist in providing a clear audit trail of both drivers and vehicles; help to ensure that effective risk procedures are in place; reduce an organisation’s risk profile and help to run a safer and more efficient fleet operation.