Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI

The Key to Tragedy

A young boy was recently ‘strangled’ to death by
the electric window of his mother’s car.
The car was parked outside the family home
at the time and the boy was playing alone in
the vehicle.
What went wrong?

If the news reports are correct, the car had
been left with the engine running, allowing the
windows to be operated by the child, who had
the tragic misfortune to trap his neck in the process.

Had the handbrake been released and the car placed
in gear, we could have been talking about injury
or death to others as well.

In this frantic world of ours, it seems increasingly
common to forget that cars are potentially lethal
weapons that need to be treated with due care and
respect at all times – even when they are stationary.
The law alone cannot protect us!
Consider Defensive Parking!

Understanding and common sense is also called for.

Total Loss:

• It is illegal for a driver to leave a engine running
  and the vehicle unattended.

• Keys left in the ignition, is potentially criminal.

• Consider Criminal Negligence! 
  Could You Live With It?

The motto must surely be:

“You have a key Reasonability!”

Malcolm Stephenson
07968 487 897 UK Mobile

The RAC’s influential Report on Motoring 2007, Driving Safely?
is described as the most comprehensive study of its kind.
Here are some key findings:

MOTORING AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

The study found that although support and understanding
of the “green agenda” is growing among motorists this is
not yet translated into action.

Just 37% of motorists consider CO2 emissions when buying
a new car and 45% say they will only take account of
environmental issues once they see people doing the same.

A total of 66% said they would buy a more environmentally
friendly car if tax incentives were better.

MOTORING REVENUES:

Motorists were found to be generally skeptical about the
government’s use of motoring revenues.

Almost one in three believe that most driving offences
are there to generate money for the Treasury, rather than
to improve safety.

Malcolm Stephenson: From A19Fleet Driving Road Safety Training
malcolm@a19fleet.co.uk

A survey carried out by fleet management specialist claims that 83% of companies
have no system in place to manage and monitor drivers that are using their own cars
for business purposes. It is estimated that the so-called ‘gray fleet’ – an expression
coined because so little appears to be known about them – comprises  approximately
1,000,000 vehicles.

Employers imagine that, just because they are not directly responsible for the
provision of the vehicle, they no longer have a duty of care towards that driver.
In the event of a serious incident they may still be liable, particularly as 53%
appear not to check that insurance cover includes business use and 35% of
employers don’t even check if employees have valid licences.
Even more worryingly only 24% of businesses carried out any form of
driving risk assessment, something that is a legal requirement.

A19Fleet can of course offer guidance and advice on a whole host of
risk management issues, and supply the solutions where necessary.

Malcolm Stephenson
A19Fleet Driving Road Safety Training

SEASONAL TIP 2007

Because of the unseasonably mild temperatures it is easy to forget that winter is around the corner.
In fact we often get a sprinkling of snow in November out of the blue.

It is perhaps because we in the UK are not geared up for snow that it always seems to catch us out.

Respect the weather: if snow is forecast, before you set off, ask yourself if your journey is really necessary.

If it is, ensure that you have plenty of fuel, and if you can, put a shovel and some matting in the boot.
You may not need them, but together with a flask of whatever hot drinks and a warm -high- viz coat,
they can make all the difference if you do get stuck.

A mobile phone and membership of a breakdown service are both godsends in bad weather!
If your journey has been delayed due to the snow, do not try to make up time by driving faster; find somewhere safe to pull over, ring ahead and then concentrate on driving safely.

Except in extreme cases, motorways are kept free of snow and ice by gritter lorries.

Stay in as high a gear as possible as it will reduce the chances of spinning wheels leading to loss of traction.

As a general rule, drop your speed and allow a greater stopping distance 

A19Fleet.co.uk

2.3m fall asleep at the wheel, says survey!
18 September 2007

An estimated 2.3 million drivers fall asleep at the wheel every year, according to new research.

Of 1,000 drivers questioned in a joint survey by road safety charity Brake and recovery company
Green Flag, 7% admitted to falling asleep at the wheel.

If this percentage is applied to all registered drivers, it is possible that millions are dozing off on
Britain’s roads.

More than a quarter of those interviewed believed they had been a passenger while a tired driver
was in control.

Despite the government’s campaign encouraging drivers to “Take a Break” it appears that many
are not doing so.

The report reveals that 78% of drivers rely on opening a window or turning up music to combat
tiredness, instead of taking regular breaks.

Malcolm Stephenson, of  A19Fleet.co.uk  said, “It’s crucial that drivers planning long journeys or
driving at unusual hours are aware of the dangers of driving while tired. You can avoid it by.”

• Getting a good night’s sleep beforehand.
• Taking regular breaks.
• “Best Practice” Driving at Work

For more help with this;
Contact: Malcolm Stephenson DSA ADI FLEET

www.A19Fleet.co.uk

01642 555 567

07968 487 897

Link to RAC Route planner

Danger spots
27 July 2007

The A682 in Lancashire has been declared the most dangerous road in Britain.

Almost 100 people have been killed or seriously injured on the 15-mile stretch in the past 10 years. The second worst is the A54 Congleton to Buxton road in Derbyshire while the A684 from the M6 to Kirkby Lonsdale in Cumbria is third, according to the European Road Assessment Programme.

The organisation also suggests that improved road markings could save eight times as many lives as a speed trap.

Source: Company Car Driver Road tests

First fine imposed for smoking driver
13 July 2007

A council has handed out its first £50 fine for smoking, to a driver who had lit up in his boss’s vehicle.

Conwy Council warned that future offenders may be named and shamed.

A spokesman for the Welsh council said that the employee chose to disregard both the law, which came into force in Wales on April 2, and his employer’s instructions.

A council enforcement officer had spotted the driver, who was employed by a private company, “smoking in a place of work.”

On July 1, England followed Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland in banning smoking in enclosed spaces.

Last week former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy was “spoken to” by police for smoking on a train from London Paddington to Plymouth.

On Thursday the House of Commons was also told other MPs were not obeying the new smoking ban.

Although not illegal in the Palace of Westminster, both Houses of Parliament agreed to restrict smoking to four designated outside areas, although those caught smoking will not face financial penalties.

Source: Company Car Driver Road tests

Smoking ban still confusing drivers
23 July 2007

New research has confirmed that British drivers remain confused over the latest laws banning smoking in company vehicles.

CompanyCarDriver reported recently that van drivers were unaware of the implications of the smoking ban but studies from motoring assist group Green Flag have shown that almost a quarter of car drivers are still unaware of the law for company cars.

One in seven drivers (16%) also said they did not know they were unable to smoke in their vehicle if it was used to carry colleagues.

A spokeswoman at Green Flag said: “The apparent confusion or lack of knowledge about the new law could lead to motorists inadvertently flouting the law. In addition to the government’s generic advertising, companies must communicate with employees to ensure that all UK drivers are clear about the impact and their own responsibilities.”

However, despite many drivers claiming ignorance, the majority of those polled in a separate survey claim to agree with the ban. A study of more than 500 company car drivers by Skoda found that 64% welcomed the legislation.

Martin Burke, head of business sales at Skoda, said: “Considering how much time is spent on business car travel, it is reassuring to see that most drivers agree with the legislation.

“We feel that smoke-free cars will have clear health benefits to company car drivers and to buyers whose vehicles will be expected to reach higher residual values.”

Commercial vehicle supplier Northgate has ensured its drivers make no mistake about the ban.

The company has actively communicated with all customers to encourage compliance with the legislation and has supplied smoking information and signage to be displayed in all vehicles.

Source: Company Car Driver Road tests