Fleet Safety Forum says 57% don't test drivers for alcohol

A disturbing report from road safety charity Brake has just been released yesterday regarding their concerns about fleets not testing drivers for alcohol. "A Fleet Safety Forum (fee based subscription) report published today by Brake shows that nearly six in 10 fleets (57%) still do not test drivers for alcohol, and an even greater proportion (63%) do not test for illegal drugs. These figures are included in Measuring the Risk (part 2), Brake’s report on an annual survey of subscribers to its Fleet Safety Forum." The report is sponsored by Licence Bureau, the first company to develop a unique driving licence verification system based on a three year consent process, accessing the DVLA driver database. Brake’s report was published just a few days after the Department for Transport posted provisional figures for crashes involving drink driving during 2011. These show that deaths resulting from drink drive crashes increased by 12 per cent from 250 in 2010 to 280 in 2011, and seriously injured casualties rose by 3 per cent from 1,250 to 1,290. Even with most fleet operators implementing sensible company policies making it clear that drinking and driving (and drug use)  will not be tolerated or doing so could result in the driver losing their job, the report still found that over half of fleets don't take the time to test their drivers, especially when there are products for self testing alcohol levels like electronic breathalyzers. I know the burden is not solely on the company, as employees are surely made aware of drink driving/drug policies when hired and of course, are expected to know the motoring laws. By failing to at least randomly test, businesses whether big or small, can not only be held accountable, but may also incur loss of business, reduced productivity, and the financial implications to those companies whose employee causes an accident while under the influence of drink or drugs can be enormous. Please visit the Brake website for more information and to view the charity's campaign to make our roads safer for everyone by clicking here.