A NEW device has been launched to protect contract hire companies against excessive mileage use if a vehicle's speedometer has been disconnected by an unscrupulous fleet. Rochdale-based Sailes Marketing has launched Mile Guard, which costs under £100 fitted.

It is a small self-powered electronic box which can be hidden from the driver, accurately recording vehicle mileage autonomously from the normal speedometer. The system consists of a transducer fitted and sealed at the gearbox and a matchbox size electronic box complete with jack plug and socket. The contract hire company has a small hand held calibrations/reader unit which shows the accumulated mileage each time it is plugged into the box.

The same unit can be used to calibrate the electronic box when first installed on the vehicle and can also be used to clear all recordings in order to refit the unit to another vehicle.