Different fleets have different purposes and on some occasions, and according to some business specifics, it might be more convenient for staff to use their own vehicles for company business—this kind of arrangement is often referred to as a grey fleet.
Indeed, grey fleets might be beneficial for companies that do not have high mileage as this does not require them to buy and maintain vehicles with the associated costs; but they are still responsible for them according to the duty of care, and problems might start to arise if drivers do not respect legal requirements or do not have their vehicles maintained regularly.
A new research carried out by Lex Autolease found out that grey fleet drivers tend to be more risky than company ones and given to more unsafe behaviour behind the wheel, including using a handheld device. They are also more prone to drive without checking if their insurance or MOT is in order and to ignoring the fact that a vehicle may need attention.
Some companies are aware of these issues and think that a grey fleet policy could, if not solve the problem, at least clarify responsibilities and perhaps be the starting point in order to organise a process that will in the end benefit both the company and grey fleet drivers.
It is always good to remind ourselves that under the current health and safety legislation, employers owe the same duty of care to staff who drive their own private vehicles as they do to employees driving vehicles owned (leased or hired) by the company. But it is quite a difficult task if vehicles are not under the control of the company, hence where a precise policy, together with the implementation of technology, can help.
According to the Department for Transport (DfT) of the United Kingdom, around 2,000 people are killed on the roads every year, and of these, around 25 to 30 per cent are due to accidents involving drivers on work journeys.
There are straight-forward vehicle and driver checks and health and safety policies that can be put in place to better manage a grey fleet, which will ensure a company meets its duty of care requirements and help to reduce the road safety risk.
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