Safety on the road: new law for businesses
What are the compliance issues with Corporate Manslaughter?
It’s finally happened: the Corporate Manslaughter Act is with us. It’s been put off, and remodelled countless times. But it’s here now. And every small business owner and director needs to take note.
The key thing for me is that any travel undertaken in a car for business purposes is covered by the act: ownership of the car isn’t the issue. Providing adequate transport for the task is the responsibility of the company directors.
I think there are several ways your can react to this – but business owners must act.
For lifestyle businesses – a husband and wife team, for example – using their private car for business and claiming business mileage reimbursement is fairly easy. As long as that private vehicle is properly insured, serviced and maintained, there should be no problem. Although it might be even safer to have one on lease – like the Honda CR-V – with maintenance to provide a full audit trail.
Bigger businesses that need to provide transport for staff have more issues to consider. Fortunately, we have some very well written articles on the website that should help. Including this one from Robert Nugent, who works for car leasing brokers Anthony K Associates, about Company car or cash allowance? It rehearses the issues well, including director health and safety responsibilities.
Others you should look at include Daimler Fleet Management’s sales and marketing director, Paul Harrop, on some of the practical steps to take – see How to understand the new Corporate Manslaughter Act.
And daily rental can play a useful part, too. You can put staff into a car that’s fit for purpose for those occasions when business use is required – rather than asking them to use their private car. Have a look at our Downloads section for How to tackle motoring duty of care issues.
One product that did catch my eye, though, was from Mike Lloyd’s Central Contracts car leasing broker firm.
Mike regularly contributes articles to businessmotoring.co.uk. They have something to help businesses to manage duty of care effectively. It’s called Fleet Monitor. And at
