Aon service aims to halve commercial fleet accidents

Aon Corporation and SmartDrive have teamed up to provide a joint service called AonSmartDrive.

San Diego, California - June 19, 2008 - The safety programme is launching in the UK, featuring a dual lens in-vehicle camera that records and analyses unsafe acts on roads. As part of Aon's wider risk management programme, commercial fleet solutions, it aims to halve commercial fleet accidents and help protect companies from prosecution under the new Corporate Manslaughter Act.

AonSmartDrive includes an in-vehicle unit consisting of a dual lens camera that uses G-Force and speed sensors to capture 30 second video clips of before and after a triggered incident. These are then reviewed to identify possible driving errors, such as tailgating or speeding, or common distractions, such as eating, using a mobile phone or reading a map. The system is entirely web-based, allowing for clients to easily and quickly access events, run reports and counsel drivers. Benchmarking means good drivers can be suitably rewarded, while drivers displaying unsafe behaviours can be retrained.

"Companies in the US and UK have seen accident frequencies cut by over 50 percent within three to six months of installing the system," according to Scott Raske, SmartDrive's managing director for Europe.

AonSmartDrive benefits also include: provision of visual evidence to aid defence in disputed incidents and reduce exposure to lawsuits and fraudulent claims; competitive insurance premiums and preferential terms in recognition of managing risks to staff and public; combatting security threats such as carjackings, robberies or harassment through a remote panic button which is readily accessible and triggered by the driver; helping to satisfy 'duty of care' obligations to employees and thus minimising the likelihood of falling foul of the Corporate Manslaughter Act that came into effect on 6 April.

Under the Act, companies could face a criminal record and unlimited fines if their negligence or unsafe practices result in the death of employees or members of the public; developing and retaining more professional and safer drivers; reducing maintenance costs and mystery damage associated with unreported incidents; reducing fuel consumption. Aon's commercial fleet solutions also includes a thorough review of existing risk management measures; driver profiling, assessment and training provision; detailed analysis of claims data; accident management/claims handling solutions and other types of driver/vehicle performance monitoring devices.

Allan Briscoe, motor consultant at Aon, commented, "We are helping companies to show that they are taking all reasonable steps to fulfill their duty of care obligations to employees and the public. Those that can do so should have little to fear from the new legislation, whereas those that do not have adequate control measures in place, or choose to ignore the risks involved, may leave themselves open to costly and damaging prosecution should a fatal incident occur. The Corporate Manslaughter Act should act as a wake-up call to companies that haven't invested in educating, assessing and training their drivers."

"Operators of large commercial or public service vehicles are perhaps the most vulnerable to the risks of the new legislation. Initiatives such as AonSmartDrive supplement a company's risk management programme by influencing driver behaviour and preventing accidents in the first place. This is a key message of the DfT/HSE publication, 'Driving at Work - Managing Work-Related Road Safety', through which companies should pro-actively identify and manage the risks posed by the vehicles, their drivers and the job that is being undertaken."

"The risk management programme will also help operators to reduce operating costs at a time when competition is fierce and fuel costs are rising."