Our recent BusinessCar Panel Working Breakfast to discuss ‘The safety of satnavs’ was a real eye-opener.
Satnav installation and use in cars and vans is yet another area of risk that needs addressing in a fleet policy.
There are relatively simple issues such as should you or shouldn’t you allow drivers to programme any kind of satnav while moving (best practice: just ban using it).
And then there are more complex areas such as where, if at all, you should site an aftermarket satnav system. If you have it attached to the screen it shouldn’t block your vision; if you mount the unit on a fixed bracket the satnav should not compromise crash safety for occupants.
These all come before the security issue of not only removing the unit when you leave the car, but also removing any evidence of having used a system before you leave the car (i.e. clean the windscreen) to stop thieves breaking in under the assumption the satnav will be in the glovebox.
The safety aspects are timely given the corporate killing bill is trying its hardest not to be kicked into the political rough and could just become law with a few politically sensitive tweaks.
