One simple way of improving safety on the roads is by ensuring that your drivers are wearing seatbelts.

It may sound obvious but according to one expert, some 31% of van drivers in the UK don’t.

Seatbelts have prevented an estimated 60,000 deaths and 670,000 serious injuries in the last 25 years, but there is widespread concern that a ‘stubborn minority’ of people still do not belt up when they get into a vehicle – particularly van drivers.

Kevin Clinton, head of road safety at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: “Thousands of lives have been saved by seatbelts.

"But there is a big problem with van drivers (69% wearing rate) and their passengers (58%) and we need employers to do more to ensure their drivers and other employees put on their seatbelts.”

Adrian Walsh, director of safety organisation RoadSafe, added: “The business case for adopting good practice is very clear.

"Some 14,000 road deaths and serious injuries occur annually involving vehicles driven on company business and this is a significant financial burden for businesses.

"The high incidence of company drivers who fail to belt up indicates a lax attitude – it is the clear responsibility of management to change this for the better.”

Our advice is to get your drivers together, explain the problem and threaten them with dismissal if they are found to be driving without a seatbelt.

Your strategy should be summed up in the company drivers’ handbook. If you think the problem persists, try staking out known routes and catching offenders red-handed.