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Vehicle Accident Facts

The Road Traffic Safety Act 2006 amended and added a number of offences under the Road Traffic Act.  A significant addition is that a driver can, under section 20, be found responsible for “causing death by careless driving” and can receive a custodial sentence of 5 years.  There are causing and permitting implications for management here in addition to those already under other sections for driving while unlicensed, uninsured or disqualified.  Management needs to be aware of these when considering driver activity and actions necessary to manage driving at work.

Causing Death by Dangerous Driving; s1 Road Traffic Act 1988 1-14 years imprisonment
Unlimited fine
Disqualification (minimum 2 years)
Mandatory disqualification until extended driving test passed

Causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs; s3A Road Traffic Act 1988 1-14 years imprisonment
Unlimited fine
Disqualification (minimum 2 years)
Mandatory disqualification until extended driving test passed

Causing death by careless driving; s2B Road Traffic Act 1988, Road Safety Act 2006 Up to 5 years imprisonment
Unlimited fine
Disqualification (minimum 1 year)

Causing death by driving while; unlicensed; uninsured or disqualified; s3ZB Road Traffic Act 1988, s21 Road Safety Act 2006 Up to 2 years imprisonment
Unlimited fine
Disqualification
There are also ‘causing & permitting’ implications for the employer.

  • There are more than 1850 deaths every year on UK roads and 22,600 serious injuries. 20% of the UK population has been affected by a road death.
  • Vehicle accident costs include:
    • Vehicle repair costs
    • Paperwork costs
    • Higher insurance costs
    • Lost meetings/ drop offs
    • Replacement vehicle costs
    • Damage to reputation costs
    • Time-off costs
    • Low moral and reduced in-office productivity costs
    • Legal fees costs
  • Plus untold costs in terms of human misery and wrecked lives – for those injured and their carers.
  • Across the UK insurance data shows up to 65% of company vehicles are involved in an accident of some sort every year. While Department of Transport figures show business drivers have collision rates 30 to 40 per cent higher than private drivers and they estimate that a million company cars on UK roads are involved in an accident every year.
  • A death caused by a company driver, on average, costs £1.8m – and accidents involving life changing brain and spinal injuries can cost even more.

So, quite simply, reducing accident collision incidents is cost-effective, good management.

Our proven experience will help you reduce these risk and costs. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you please contact us info@compliance-bureau.co.uk  or call us on 01442 430 980.