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Companies are introducing compulsory tyre safety checks to their
fleets in record numbers amid concerns at the level of unsafe
work vehicles on the roads.
Industry estimates suggest that up to 800,000 fleet vehicles are
running on at least one unsafe tyre.
Research by Kwik-Fit Fleet based on hundreds of thousands of tyre
checks carried out in the past two years suggests that 25% of
inspected vehicles require immediate attention, usually because
tyre tread depths are illegal.
The current fine for driving on illegal tyres is £2,500 per tyre
and three points per tyre on the driver’s licence.
Kwik-Fit has seen demand for independent tyre checks soar and is
expecting to carry out 250,000 this year, up from 220,000 in 2007.
As a result, it is adding 30 vehicles to its 200-vehicle van fleet
to cope with demand.
One key reason for the increase is the Corporate Manslaughter Act,
which comes into force in April.
Companies want to prove they are meeting their duty of care to
employees by keeping them safe on the road.
Among companies signing up for the regular tyre safety checks is
Crewe-based mobile phone company, the 20:20 Mobile Group, which
operates 147 vehicles.
Andrea Shipman, the company’s assistant manager (fleet and benefits),
said: “Not only is it vital from a duty of care perspective, but
there is no lost time with staff having to go to centres to have
the checks carried out.”
The company employs more than 1,050 people and tyre safety checks
are part of the benefits package that is available to all staff
as part of its suite of affinity programmes.
Cheadle-based Trinity-Chiesi Pharmaceuticals ensures tyre safety
checks are undertaken on approximately 40 head office-based company
cars every two months.
In addition, Kwik-Fit Fleet mobile technicians undertake checks on
up to 250 vehicles driven by staff and other people working on
behalf of the company when they all attend twice-a-year UK
conferences.
Angela Hart, fleet manager, said: “From my perspective as fleet
manager, the audit trail these checks create is of huge significance
in terms of demonstrating our compliance with our duty of care
responsibilities towards our drivers.”
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