ALD Automotive, a UK-based vehicle leasing and fleet management company has today announced the results of their latest YouGov survey, which reveals that six out of ten UK businesses employing over 500 staff are unsure whether their existing fleet policy is sufficiently robust to protect their business and employees from current "duty of care" legislation.

With health and safety legislation being strengthened in recent years, directors have a responsibility to ensure all vehicles, even private vehicles used on business purposes, are roadworthy and correctly insured and that there is clear guidance for all employees driving at work. It is crucial that every company has a comprehensive  and auditable ‘driving for work’ policy covering every element of their fleet operation, no matter how few vehicles are used and who owns them. Every employee driving for business should be required to sign up to the policy, thereby reducing the risk of themselves and their business being prosecuted.

Commenting on the survey results, Keith Allen, managing director of ALD Automotive UK, said: 'This survey shows that, despite the high profile given to corporate manslaughter legislation duty of care and occupational road risk is still a big issue in the UK.'

Keith Allen concluded: 'It is therefore essential that we continue to work closely with our customers to offer the best advice and solutions to protect themselves fully from the associated risks. With greater emphasis being placed on the responsibility of employers to ensure the safety of their drivers and other road users, we need to ensure all of our customers have an effective occupational road risk policy in place.'