Article courtesy of Staveley Head
Fleet operators have a responsibility to keep both their drivers and other road users safe. While obtaining fleet insurance from a provider like Staveley Head is a good start, recent statistics have shown us that fleet operators are dropping the ball in other areas and exposing their drivers and other road users to risk.
This year, Brake’s Fleet Safety forum conducted a survey of over 120 fleet operators. Their results showed that more than four in ten operators do not offer their drivers eyesight testing, and almost six in ten do not keep any records of the last time their drivers had an eye test conducted.
What Does A Lack Of Eyesight Testing Mean for Road Safety?
The lack of eye testing policies amongst fleet operators has serious implications for how safe their drivers are on the road. Good eyesight or knowledge of the fact that you need to wear corrective lenses while on the road is a highly important part of staying safe and avoiding accidents while driving. Commercial drivers must be able to visualise other vehicles on the road as well as keep an eye out for potential hazards. Any eye problems that are not known of or treated can compromise the drivers ability to be aware of their surroundings and could also lead to misreading of road signs and trouble during journeys in low light conditions.
Should this Be the Driver’s Responsibility or the Fleet Operator’s Responsibility?
While it might seem that this is an issue that can be left up to individual drivers, the facts are that every single year, 12.5 million people in the UK miss an eye test that they are due. Perhaps more shockingly, one in every six drivers would not be able to pass a basic eye test.
Eye sight experts have recommended that eye tests are conducted at least every two years. Waiting for a problem to be noticed simply isn’t good enough – the International Glaucoma Association reports that as much as 40% of vision can be lost before being it is noticed by an individual.
The Benefits to Fleet Operators of Providing and Requiring Eye Tests
By making sure that all drivers have any eye problems diagnosed and treated, fleet operators can cut down on accidents and so decrease their insurance claims and time that vehicles are off-road for unscheduled repair. In the long run this leads to fleet operators being able to reap the benefits of decreased insurance premiums as well.
In addition to the safety and insurance benefits of requiring eye tests, fleet operators could reap extra rewards from better public perception of their brand. A separate Brake survey found that 75% of UK drivers believe that drivers should be compelled to have their eyes tested every five years. It stands to reason that a fleet operator that instituted such a policy would be considered a more responsible and caring company.
