Kwik-Fit Fleet is helping organisations to meet their at-work driving duty of care responsibilities with the launch of a new Vehicle Health Check service.

The service, available nationally, sees Kwik-Fit Fleet’s inspectors visit company car parks and depots to undertake health checks on vehicles covering items such as tyres, fluid levels, lights, instruments and the condition of brakes, glass and body work.

Additionally, if required by customers, Kwik-Fit Fleet will undertake a short road test ideally on a customer’s premises to check, for example, steering, clutch and brake operation and engine noise.

Kwik-Fit Fleet has introduced its Vehicle Health Checks to give added peace of mind to employers with them being conducted perhaps on a monthly basis to supplement daily driver checks or on a quarterly or twice-yearly basis to audit the driver checks. Different levels of Vehicle Health Checks are also offered so customers can tailor them to their own requirements.

Kwik-Fit Fleet operations director Simon Lucas said: “As part of their duty of care obligations all fleets are responsible for making sure that vehicles driven by company drivers are roadworthy.

“Despite carrying out servicing at manufacturer specified intervals there is still the potential for many of the simple every day checks to be missed and for drivers to be inadvertently driving a vehicle that is unsafe.

“Pressure on companies and organisations to reduce at-work road accidents by focusing on fleet risk management is increasing and frequent vehicle health checks reflect a pro-active and caring fleet company.”

He added: “Our inspections also help to increase driver awareness of the importance of checking their vehicles from the driver’s seat, under the bonnet, under the vehicle and via a ‘walk round’ look. Additionally, if a ‘problem’ is detected early it can reduce vehicle downtime and costs. Work required is recorded on a Vehicle Health Check report for action by the employer.”

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