Essential Duty of Care: Car Checks

It is now distinctly possible that the courts will hold a company responsible for the well-being of its staff on company business, not only in company owned vehicles, but also in private vehicles used for business. As a result, it is essential that the organisation has clear policies in place to ensure that vehicles are checked before being used on company business.

Pre-Journey Safety Checks
Recent research has indicated that many drivers actually do not know how to check their oil levels, or how to conduct basic vehicle maintenance. It is therefore essential that the company ensures a basic level of driver awareness about vehicle maintenance.

RoSPA recommends the following items should be checked before any journey is undertaken. Whether all of these checks can be deemed as ‘reasonable’ is a matter for debate however.

Lights and indicators should be checked to ensure that they are working properly
The windscreen should be checked for chips or cracks
Windows and mirrors should be checked to ensure there is no broken glass in the vehicle
Washers should be checked to ensure they operate effectively
Washer fluid levels should be checked and topped up where necessary
Power steering fluid and coolant system (with 50% anti-freeze, where necessary) should also be checked
Brake / clutch fluid and battery electrolyte levels also need checking (except maintenance free battery)
The controls on the vehicle should be checked to ensure they are working properly
The vehicle should also be checked for signs of damage that may be a danger
Fuel level should be checked to ensure enough fuel for the journey
Tyre pressures and condition should also be checked, including the spare wheel

Routine Maintenance
It is important that cars are regularly serviced at the recommended intervals to ensure their long term reliability. These intervals can be found in the manufacturers handbook for each vehicle.

We believe in the use of the appropriate manufacturers franchised repair network, where trained technicians with the expertise and modern equipment necessary to maintain vehicles to the highest possible standards are available.

By having vehicles serviced in accordance with the manufacturers programme, you will find that not only do you maintain performance quality, but you will also help to increase the resale value of the vehicles for your company.

Should you need to make a claim under the manufacturers warranty, this will be dealt with promptly and efficiently, only if the vehicle has been serviced in accordance with the manufacturers recommended programme. Lack of servicing, or late servicing may invalidate the warranty and cost your organisation money.

No modification, addition, extension or alteration should be made to the original factory specification, where this will affect the performance, handling or general safety of the vehicle.

Tyre Maintenance
Tyre pressures levels can be found in the vehicle handbook. For the best handling characteristics and extended tyre life, tyre pressures should be maintained at these levels.

By law, tyres must be replaced when the tread depth across ¾ of the width of the tread throughout the entire circumference of the tyre falls below 1.6mm. There must be no damage to the tyre body, either sidewalls or tread, no bulges or cuts.

Call the Arnold Clark Fleet Maintenance Department for clarification on any maintenance issue on 0141 352 5200 or click here.

	The Law		Key Points
	Developing Duty of Care		Driver Training
	Car Checks		Speeding
	Private Cars		Mobile Phones
	Risk Assessment		Sources of Information