Posted: Thursday, 11 February 2016
If one of your fleet vehicles is involved in an accident, not only must you pay for the necessary repairs, higher insurance premiums and possible third-party compensation, you will also need to recoup the costs of any downtime.
Therefore, it makes sense to seek out ways to reduce the chances of a collision wherever possible.
But have you ever considered testing the eyesight of your fleet driver's on a regular basis? According to research by Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, most employers believe that driver regular eyesight testing would help reduce vehicle collisions and as a result, save fleet operators money.
The survey asked more than 100 decision makers of UK companies and organisations, which represented a minimum of 300,000 employees, about whether they thought regular eye tests for employees who drive to work would help reduce collisions. In total, 59 per cent believed it would bring accident numbers down, while just 10 per cent of employers surveyed felt otherwise.
"It is clear here that further education is needed on the link between eye care and greater safety on our roads," said Jim Lythgow, director of strategic alliances at Specsavers Corporate Eyecare. "We work closely with road safety charity, Brake, and it categorically states that 'poor vision increases your risk of crashing'.
"Employers have an important role to play in ensuring people are fit to drive and this begins with understanding the risks. Ensuring employees have adequate eyesight for driving brings great benefits for all."
Along with potentially reducing accident numbers, a further 61 per cent of survey respondents also thought that testing the eyesight of employees who drive would save the business or organisation money overall, which Lythgow described as a "significant finding."
"While it is hugely beneficial for employers to realise that driver eye care can reduce the risk of collisions, businesses are bound to also be money - driven," he added. "With so many employers also making the connection between eye care and a reduction in costs, we really hope that more businesses will be spurred into action.
"Eyecare is an extremely low-cost benefit and the savings that can be made in terms of uninsured losses – sick pay, lost time, increased premiums – if a collision should occur, are likely to far outweigh the cost of eye care provision.The cost of collisions to the individual may, of course, be immeasurable."