All UK companies have a legal obligation to ensure their employees do not suffer any unreasonable or foreseeable harm or loss in the workplace – this is known as duty of care.

In other words, employers can be found liable if an employee or a member of the public incurs harm or loss as a result of negligence. Therefore it’s vital all fleet operators carry out the relevant safety checks on owned vehicles to ensure they’re safe to use.

It’s important to note that if a vehicle is owned by a firm, it’s considered a place of work, so health and safety rules apply. According to the Department of Transport, over a quarter of road traffic accidents may involve someone who’s driving as part of their employment obligations.

When it comes to road safety, much of the legal responsibility falls on the driver. It is, therefore, up to you to ensure your vehicle is safe, well maintained and insured, and is being driven in a safe manner. An employee caught driving recklessly is responsible for any offence that comes as a result of it.

However, employers do shoulder some responsibility for their employees’ actions. For instance, employers are liable for the death or injury of an employee caused by another employee through negligence.

Additionally, both parties may be found liable if a driver is caught speeding as a result of impractical employer scheduling.