Estimates suggest a third of all traffic accidents in the UK involve someone who is at work at the time and may account for over 20 fatalities a week.

Yet our study of 300 businesses with vans suggested that nearly half are totally unaware of the term‘corporate manslaughter’.

As well as a general lack of awareness, our research revealed three main areas of concern in the way businesses manage their vans: poor admin in relation to the paperwork for drivers and vehicles; unchecked damage to van bodywork and windscreens; and a casual attitude to core maintenance required to keep vehicles safe.

Corporate manslaughter is a very serious charge that carries an unlimited fine. We want to warn businesses that keeping on top of relevant HSE legislation is vital to avoid leaving themselves exposed.

Key findings revealed:

Poor admin

  • Three in ten companies have not checked the insurance details of those driving their company vans.
  • Eight per cent of companies have failed to check whether those driving the company van hold a valid driver’s licence.
  • Eighty-five per cent of those interviewed were confident that their company vans’MOTs are up to date – leaving 15% who weren’t.
  • Six per cent “don’t know” who is responsible for the servicing of the company vehicles.

State of (dis)repair

  • Forty-six per cent of company vans carry minor, and probably insignificant scratches/dents, but a further 25% have medium sized dents and 14% have large and unassessed areas of damage that could potentially affect the safety of the van.
  • Twenty-two per cent have unrepaired damage to exhausts bumpers or mirrors.
  • A massive 55% have chips in their windscreen – something that is easily fixed but left unattended can lead to serious issues.

A lack of maintenance

  • Nine per cent of those questioned serviced their vehicles less than once a year and a further 6 per cent never do so.
  • More than one in ten (12%) checked tyre pressure and tread just once a year or even less. And 5% never do it.
  • Fluid levels (oil and water) are left unchecked for a year or more by 15% with another 6% never checking.
  • Only one in three will top up the anti-freeze when winter weather sets in.
  • One in four tests the brake function/ fluid of their van just once a year or less.

Sadly as an insurer, we all too often see the results of people failing to comply with rules and regulations designed to keep road-users safe. And while we know that often there is no intent to break the rules we also know that complacency can carry a very heavy price-tag.