You have a duty to assess the risks for your employees driving in the course of work, regardless of whether you or they own the vehicle. You could be held personally liable if you neglect this duty.

• A Lancashire firm was fined £100,000 plus £18,895 in costs in 2005 after the death of one of its workers, for failing to ensure an employee's safety, failing to make a health and safety assessment and failing to maintain his vehicle in working order.

Good driving not only reduces accidents but can also reduce fleet running and maintenance costs. Using Brit Risk Management can potentially result in the following savings:

• Reduced fuel consumption.
• Reduced wear and tear on tyres, brakes etc.
• Increased vehicle value.
• "At Kodak, claims involving drivers who had participated in a fleet risk management programme reduced by 77%. The cost per claim (severity factor) reduced by 34% and the frequency rate slowed by 335%.”

The damage done to your reputation if you are shown not to have exercised your duty of care over your employees or the general public can have a significant impact on the success of your business, and your ability to attract employees.

• A haulage firm boss was jailed in 2006 for having persuaded drivers who had exceeded their hours behind the wheel to work, which came to light after two lorry drivers were killed in a head-on collision in Wiltshire.