Small businesses remain in the firing line of the corporate manslaughter act, says rental business Avis.

Small businesses often lack the budget or resources to run a conventional company fleet. Or ensure they are compliant with the law when employees are driving their own vehicles on business. So the company has developed a business solutions product to assist.

Avis reckons car rental makes perfect sense for SMEs – as all responsibility is in the hands of the rental provider. And rental ensures businesses have a tight control over costs.

“Some 25% of all vehicle miles covered on Britain’s roads are driven by those travelling on business, and every week around 200 road deaths and serious injuries involve someone driving for work,” said Roger Grainger, sales director, Avis UK.

“It makes good sense to extend duty of care legislation to cover employees driving on business. But complying with that legislation can put a real strain on small companies, particularly those that require employees to use their own cars for business purposes. Avis Business Solutions is a comprehensive service that takes the strain off businesses’ shoulders, giving companies of all sizes a cost-effective, practical solution.”

Avis Business Solutions checks every renter’s driving licence and conducts a 59-point safety check to ensure each vehicle is roadworthy. There is also an in-car guide to explain key controls of vehicles.

Further information

• Business Car Manager is association with National Car Rental has produced a special downloadable pdf report on How to tackle motoring duty of care issues
  
• For an alternative but cost-effective duty of care solution, see news for Low cost duty of care complianace programme

Avis reports smaller businesses are still most likely sector to be hit by legislation