Neglecting safety-critical vehicle checks risks road safety
A new survey from Venson Automotive Solutions has revealed that more than a fifth of grey fleet drivers neglect safety-critical vehicle checks.
This includes monitoring tyre tread depth and overall condition, as well as oil levels.
Its survey focused on 12 different maintenance checks. It found that only 27% of motorists inspect battery health themselves, while 51% check coolant and antifreeze levels.
However, more drivers are confident enough to check windscreen wipers (64%), washer fluid levels (70%), headlights (67%) and number plate visibility (81%).
The survey also found that 42% of young drivers ask family members to help them carry out basic vehicle checks compared to 27% of 25-34-year-olds.
SMR checks
Lee O’Neill, operations director of Venson Automotive Solutions, said: “Driver education, whether by a fleet management provider or in-house, is fundamental to effective grey fleet management. Our survey indicates that while many of the simpler SMR tasks like checking washer levels and number pate visibility are being done regularly by the drivers themselves, tasks like inspecting tyres can easily be neglected.
“By educating drivers on how to carry out all of the routine vehicle inspections, drivers can pick up on small problems before they become big issues.
“Employers who combine this education and have defined policies in place to ensure advance bookings for services and MOT by their grey fleet drivers can really make a huge impact on driver risk management and road safety.”
