THE company for driver risk management

FIVE MILLION NOT PROPERLY INSURED?

A recent survey suggests that as many as five million drivers who use their cars for business purposes may have inadequate insurance cover.

Due to the large number of people opting out of company-funded cars into their own, part-funded cars – the so-called ‘grey fleet’ – it appears that many drivers are blissfully ignorant that, if they use their cars for even the most innocuous purpose, like nipping down to the bank or driving to another office, they should have class one business insurance cover.

With both the police and insurers now making it their business to establish if a journey involving a crash was being made for business purposes, this is a highly risky strategy and may lead to insurers not honouring payouts. In addition, employers unquestionably have a duty of care that extends to ensuring that correct insurance cover is in place if employees drive on their behalf.

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SLASH THOSE FUEL COSTS

The Safe And Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) scheme for vans run by the DfT last year produced some significant data on the extent to which fuel can be saved by using the kind of defensive driving techniques that Drive & Survive has been promoting for the last twenty years.

Having examined all the SAFED training sessions delivered by a variety of suppliers, Drive & Survive amongst them, it transpired that an average fuel saving of 16% could be expected, which equates to a staggering £425 saving per driver per annum.

Drive & Survive has an equivalent half day fuel economy course which costs £160.00 per head based on two drivers per day, making it effectively self funding within a sixteen weeks. After that it’s savings all the way. The course is carried out from the driver’s place of work, using the van he would normally drive, enabling the trainer to tailor the session to the driver’s exact needs.

Apart from having an obvious positive effect on the bottom line, this course will also contribute to the lowering of the company’s carbon footprint and thus assist with the discharge of corporate social responsibility.

For more information please contact our Customer Service team on 0870 1218339 or via enquiries@drivesurvive.co.uk.

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A SIGN OF THE TIMES

Approximately 1000 road signs are being removed in South Wales, as a result of a local council’s ‘clutter audit’ and this could catch on elsewhere in the country. A spokesman for the council said that the aim was not to endanger road users by taking down signs, but just to remove those which were considered as being not needed.

However, several road safety groups have expressed concern about the potential confusion that can be caused by the over use of signage. In fact, some research suggests that little or no roadside information causes drivers to slow down and increase their levels of concentration.

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GEARED UP FOR WINTER

Winter is just around the corner and there is no better time to arrange for drivers, particularly those visiting customers in rural areas, to take part in Drive & Survive’s highly acclaimed ‘Get a grip on winter driving’ course.

For just £145.00 per head for a group of three (only £110 each if you can get a group of 12 together), participants get an engaging, thought-provoking, interactive seminar, which imparts masses of ‘I-never-knew-that’ information about winter conditions, followed by two separate hands-on, practical training sessions which will equip drivers with the anticipation and control skills to enable them to cope with the most inclement conditions imaginable.

Getting stuck, being delayed or, worse still, having a crash costs time, money and maybe even business reputation. Avoid all this with Drive & Survive’s ‘Get a grip on winter driving’ course. For more information please contact the Customer Services team on 0870 1218339 or via enquiries@drivesurvive.co.uk.

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ANIMAL CRACKERS

We have often made reference to ‘expecting the unexpected’ in these pages over the years but collisions with deer are becoming virtually an everyday occurrence and can be a serious hazard.

74,000 deer are now run over annually, a fivefold increase in the past seven years. At least 11,000 cars suffered in excess of £250 worth of damage apiece and 15 drivers or passengers were killed as a direct result, with a further 700 people being injured.

Although the A22 through Ashdown Forest in Sussex is cited as the main hotspot, it is a national problem and no longer restricted to remote rural areas.

Although not a guarantee of avoiding trouble, you can sometimes spot the reflections in their eyes before they leap out in front of you, so as part of your visual scanning routine it is worth extending your view into the area immediately behind the roadside verges to look for the telltale signs of a suicidal ruminant.

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HARD SHOULDER RUNNING

According to the DfT, the experiment on the M42 involving the use of the hard shoulder during peak times has been such a success that it is being extended to other motorways, initially just around Birmingham.

It is claimed that, during the period of the experiment, average journey times fell by a quarter, fuel consumption on the route dropped by 4% and emissions fell by up to 10%. Most importantly, the number of collisions was down as well.

If anybody is using the hard shoulder under these circumstances for the first time it is important to scan well ahead and respond immediately to instructions on the overhead matrix boards relating to leaving that lane.

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OFF ROADER BAN

The National Parks Authorities have been given new powers to ban off-road vehicles from their land under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006. The authorities can now make traffic regulation orders within their boundaries on rights of way and unsurfaced roads, in an attempt to curb inappropriate use. For more information see

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PLEASE VOTE FOR US

Yes, its that time of year again – the occasion when you, our valued customers, can show your appreciation for Drive & Survive’s efforts in helping to achieve your risk management objectives by voting for us in the ‘Business Car Awards’.

All you have to do is go to www.businesscar.co.uk/vote to take part. Drive & Survive is an option to vote for in TWO categories, Service Supplier of the Year and Risk Management.

You did us proud last year, enabling us to win both those categories. Could we do it again?

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DRILLING DEEP INTO RISK

Drive & Survive strategic partner RiskFrisk, experts in the field of total corporate risk assessment, has introduced its innovative ‘Risk Profiler’ system. The online tool examines all aspects of non driver risk associated with the operation of vehicles, particularly LGVs operating out of multiple depots and with complex logistics patterns. For more information please go to www.fleetriskprofiler.com.

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USEFUL WEBSITE #1

A really useful, free to use website for journey planning is www.transportdirect.info. It not only works out the best route for you, giving the option of using the car or public transport, but also contains traffic information and useful hints and tips. It even has a facility to find the nearest car park to your destination.

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USEFUL WEBSITE #2

We have mentioned the Tyresafe website (www.tyresafe.org) before as a very useful source of information about anything tyre-related but it now has a new facility. Just type in a vehicle registration number and the recommended tyre pressures for that vehicle will be displayed.

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SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

Already fitted to some new Mondeo models, Ford has developed a clever adaptive front lighting system which extends the light path into tight bends by an additional 10 metres, by swivelling the lights by up to 15 degrees left or right in reaction to inputs from steering sensors. Another feature is the automatic activation of low level cornering lights below 37mph, to assist with low speed manoeuvring, such as the entry into a tight driveway.

Nissan is set to introduce the world’s first all round view external camera system to assist the driver with accurate and stress-free low speed manoeuvring and parking. The four ultra-wide angle cameras give complete coverage of the periphery of the vehicle and warn the driver of the proximity of a hazard through easy to understand coloured graphics displayed on a monitor, as well as an audible alert. Although available on specific US market models from this month, there is no word yet on availability in Europe.

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ANOTHER IRRESISTABLE OFFER

On a car allowance or cash for car scheme? How about this great deal from our friends at AFL.

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT

In this edition the Spotlight falls on our Customer Services colleague Julie Cowderoy.

How long with Drive & Survive?   Nearly five years.
Job function:  Deputy Manager, Customer Services.
Home town:  Woodstock.
Where were you born?  Watford.
Brothers/sisters:  One sister.
Partner’s name:  Nigel.
Do you have children, if so how many and names?   One girl, Rebecca, and one boy, Simon.
Hobbies/interests:  Good food, travelling to foreign countries and all sports - I support Watford football club and my daughter’s Athletics. I also have Dressage horses.
Favourite film:  The ‘Burbs.
Favourite music/band: All kinds.
Favourite food:  Oriental and seafood.
Favourite shop:  ALL shops - I am a woman !!
Favourite sport:  Equestrian, football and rugby.
Do you watch or take part in the above?  Watch but I am also in partnership with breeding of Dressage horses in Holland.
Location of your last holiday: Tenerife.
Your dream holiday location:  New Zealand.
Your favourite city visited so far:  Miami.
Favourite TV programme:  Casualty.
Favourite book:  Any autobiography.
What newspaper do you read?  The Times.
What car do you normally drive?  Honda Civic.
Do you think the motorway speed limit should be raised?  No.
Do you think raising the driving age limit from 17 to 18 will help?  No.
Do you agree with pay-per-mile road pricing if road tax was abolished?  Yes.
What aspect of bad driving most annoys you?  Tail gating.

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