VEHICLE & FLEET SAFETY
MANAGING RISK
Debby Moore, Strategic Account Manager, from Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions offers tips on how employers can understand, and effectively manage their risk.
It is important for firms to understand their risk before they try to effectively manage it. Above all else, this is the most important factor to remember with accident management.
IT ALL STARTS WITH THE DRIVERS Accident management begins with your drivers. All drivers need to understand the process involved with reporting an accident, so they can effectively adhere to it.
The first thing drivers must understand and do, is report accidents in a timely fashion. As soon as they have an accident, no matter how small, the driver should report this to their employer or fleet management company. This is especially important if a third party is involved, as it provides a greater window of time to contact the third party and their insurer.
Companies should encourage all drivers to report all incidents, no matter how small and even if they are the only party involved. When a vehicle is returned at the end of its lease, the condition is checked as a
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matter of process and could still be charged back. Repairing a vehicle while it is still on fleet is often more cost effective.
TACKLING REPAIRS Drivers could be tempted to book their own repairer to avoid markers against their name, as well as to avoid causing additional costs at the end of the lease. However the incident still needs to be reported so damage can be logged, repairs can be checked and then auctioned by an approved repairer.
Minor damages and reasonable fair wear and tear of a vehicle are covered under the lease of a vehicle. The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) issue guides that show the accepted standard that defines fair wear and tear when vehicles are returned at the end of a lease or finance agreement.
Reporting and managing damage is a critical part of an employer’s duty of care; they have responsibility for the safety of their drivers on the road and unchecked repairs are
something of an unknown risk. While some of these repairs may only be minor, failing to report issues leaves operators open to risk.
When considering the ‘true cost’ of a repair, all elements need to be considered, including vehicle downtime, as well as additional vehicle hire costs if a courtesy car is not a viable option.
At Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, we encourage repair estimates to be made by mobile technicians, to reduce inconvenience and lessen the impact on company time. Having undertaken the estimate, the repair route can be determined and may result in further downtime reductions if it can be completed by a rapid or mobile repairer.
In the case of incidents where the car is still driveable, it is important to check with the chosen repairer if they have all the known parts required for the work, before the vehicle is taken in. This avoids the car being off the road for longer than is required.
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