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Tyres are arguably the single most important feature on a car – after all the four round ‘envelopes of air’ in each corner are the only part of the vehicle in contact with the road surface.

Put simply, a safe tyre could save your life, while an unsafe tyre could be responsible for your death and the deaths of others. Yet experience shows that up to one million of the UK’s three million company car drivers are driving around on unsafe tyres. Why? The answer is simple – drivers don’t bother to undertake regular vehicle safety checks.

The alarming research highlights the need for company bosses to establish a partnership between directors, employees and fleet executives if an occupational driving risk management strategy is to be successful.

While Britain’s most safety-conscious fleets have woken up to that fact and are having regular safety checks carried out on their vehicles to make sure they perform at maximum efficiency – in many cases safety checks extend way beyond tyres to include fluid levels, brakes, lights and instrumentation – most fleets are waiting for an accident to happen.

Ever since the November 2001 publication of the government-inspired work-related Road Safety Task Group’s report fleet chiefs have highlighted at-work driver safety as the number one industry issue.

But, despite the increasing focus on at-work driver safety by the government, police and Health and Safety Executive and a toughening of legislation towards companies involved in occupational driving, road accidents industry data shows that a staggering four out of five companies (80 per cent) still have no risk management policy.

Crucially employees who use their own cars on company business must also be accounted for within corporate risk management strategies. Too many directors believe that ditching company cars in favour of a cash in lieu policy takes care of any liability in the event of an accident – it doesn’t.

Professor Peter Cooke, from the Centre for Automotive Industries Management at Nottingham Business School, part of Nottingham Trent University, wrote the Kwik-Fit Fleet-sponsored Business Car Risk Management: A Boardroom Briefing, said: “Directors have a duty of care to ensure any car used on business is wholly fit for the purpose and operates within clearly understood and documented guidelines. “More than ever before, legislation, guidance and protocols dictate the operating parameters of the vehicle driven on business. The initiatives are supported by sanctions, the ultimate of which is now corporate manslaughter.

“There have long been penalties for drivers who have broken the rules regarding the use of cars on business. But the responsibilities and penalties have now been extended to the organisation – and ultimately to the board of directors. Specific rules need to be laid down and monitored continuously.”

Kwik-Fit Fleet’s latest survey of cars driven by fleet decision-makers shows that up to a third of the people responsible for fleet vehicles in their businesses are taking to the wheel of unsafe cars.

Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director Mike Wise said: ‘Our survey revealed an alarming number of faults on vehicles being driven by responsible individuals. The very fact that these people were attending a fleet safety seminar when the survey was undertaken shows that they understand the importance of corporate fleet safety and risk management.

‘However, it is clear that many of these people are not carrying out frequent safety inspections on their own company car, let alone ensuring that similar checks are undertaken on all vehicles on the fleet for which they are responsible. Safety checks must be a part of every corporate risk management policy.’

Almost one-third of the 50 cars checked at the safety seminars had faults, which impacted on the vehicle’s roadworthiness and the safety of other road users. This snapshot study replicated across the UK’s three million-strong company car park means that almost one million vehicles may be unsafe but continue to be driven.

More than one fault was detected on a handful of cars and many other faults were spotted which impacted on the roadworthiness of the vehicles. Some faults detected, such as low tyre tread depths and light defects, meant drivers were breaking the law and could have been prosecuted if stopped by the police.

The catalogue of faults revealed by the vehicle checks were:

• 31 per cent of vehicles had tyres which were on the 1.6mm legal limit;
• 28 per cent of vehicles had incorrect tyre pressures of which two vehicles were 30 per cent below manufacturer guidelines;
• 23 per cent of vehicles were low on oil with the dipstick on two cars failing to register any oil;
• 17 per cent of vehicles had stone chips to the windscreen;
• 17 per cent of vehicles had low coolant levels with two vehicles having no anti-freeze;
• 11 per cent of vehicles had tyres below the 1.6mm legal limit;
• 11 per cent of vehicles had light malfunctions;
• 8 per cent of vehicles had washers which did not work;
• 5 per cent of vehicles had flat spare tyres.

Mr Wise said: “If the police stopped any one of those drivers and checked their vehicles criminal action could result. Even more alarming would be the consequences if any of those vehicles were involved in an accident.

“Not only could the company car driver be facing prosecution but the company and senior employees such as the fleet decision-maker and company directors could be facing court action under duty of care or aiding and abetting an offence legislation.

“With regard to the vehicle itself the police will want to see maintenance records and know that daily or weekly checks carried out as to roadworthiness. All of the faults which our technicians highlighted could have been corrected with regular safety inspections taking the onus and responsibility away from fleet decision-makers.”

Tyre safety checks on company cars undertaken in office car parks at the instigation of safety-conscious fleet managers by Kwik-Fit Mobile has revealed that up to 10 per cent of tyres are typically illegal when the first check is carried out.

At 70 mph the stopping distance of a car fitted with a new tyre with 8mm of tread is calculated to be 100 metres; with 3mm of tread remaining a car’s stopping distance increases to 150 metres; with 1.6mm of tread remaining a car’s stopping distance is 200 metres – double that of a vehicle fitted with a new tyre – and with just 1mm of a tread remaining a car’s stopping distance is 250 metres.

If tyres are not changed before they wear to 1.6mm drivers are compromising the safety of themselves and other road users. To maintain safety, good driving performance and fuel economy it is advisable to change tyres before they reach a tread depth of 1.6mm.

The current fine for driving on illegal tyres is £2,500 per tyre and three points on a driving licence. One organisation working with Kwik-Fit Fleet to ensure all its vehicles are safe is the Inland Revenue. For a year fortnightly safety checks have been undertaken on the nationwide 900-strong Inland Revenue pool car fleet by Kwik-Fit Fleet’s mobile technicians.

The fortnightly 20-minutes per car safety inspection covers: checks and top-ups to all fluid levels under the bonnet, visual checks for fluid leaks, checks on all lights, instruments and controls for damage or defects, a visual check of the vehicle for damage, checks for excess handbrake travel, checks for seat belt defects, tyre condition, tread and pressure checks, and checks for any abnormal engine noise. Remedial work will then be sanctioned.

Technicians will also undertake hour-long interim safety checks on all Inland Revenue pool cars and some company cars. The checks, which will highlight any remedial work required, will be carried out in between routine services amid some concern at the trend towards longer manufacturer service intervals – 20,000 miles in some cases.

Inland Revenue commercial operations director Stan Ayling said: “The national service ensures that uniform checks are carried out on cars nationwide. From a health and safety point of view it is essential that both the transport department and staff at all the offices are comfortable that the cars are in first-class condition.”

Mr Wise concluded: “Ultimately whether or not safety checks are carried out as part of an overall fleet risk management strategy relates to a company’s willingness to manage risk. “Managing fleet risks makes good business sense. It reduces costs, eliminates corporate liability, generates the image of a good corporate citizen and fosters employee security and job satisfaction.

“The issue may have been ignored, or at least given a low priority in the past; directors and senior managers can only do so at their peril in the future.”

Copies of the report Business Car Management: A Boardroom Briefing costing £49 are available from Kwik-Fit Fleet on 01727 736267 or by sending an email: i This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

(This article was originally published in Director of Finance 2004 edition)