In an effort to help companies shore up their commercial vehicle compliance standards, CHAS, a Veriforce company based in the United Kingdom, has developed an innovative scheme in partnership with National Highways and Driving for Better Business: the CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme.

The new assessment system seeks to streamline the intricacies of commercial vehicle compliance, helping companies ensure their vehicle operations and drivers adhere to the latest work-related vehicle and driver safety standards.

What Is the CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme?

The CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme is a certified evaluation process aimed at emphasising your handling of work-related road hazards, ensuring the safety and roadworthiness of your vehicles, and verifying the proficiency of your drivers.

For a starting fee of just £89 per annum, businesses can avail of a seamless compliance procedure that accentuates safety standards across drivers, vehicles, and entire fleets. The primary objective remains clear: aid businesses in a smooth shift towards regulatory adherence and exemplary practices.

The CHAS Vehicle Assessment Scheme evaluates five critical areas to ensure your vehicle and driver safety standards are met. This includes:

1. Vehicle Maintenance and Record-keeping: We examine risk assessments for vehicle safety operations, vehicle tax records, motor insurance certificates, and MOT documentation, ensuring all are signed and dated.
2. Driver Certification and Training Records: We review your records for driving license checks, employee training, and a driver register detailing assigned vehicles and keyholders.
3. Driver Health and Wellbeing: We assess your strategies for evaluating employee driving fitness, safe working practices, and records of working hours, eyesight tests, and substance testing.
4. Safety Inspection and Defect Management: We scrutinise records related to fleet management, regular vehicle inspections, and proof of safety features like sensors, dash cams, and speed limiters.
5. Collision, Penalty, and Incident Management: We evaluate your protocols for documenting and mitigating road traffic collisions, incidents, and near-misses.

Why Should Firms Consider Enrolling in the CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme?

Recent statistics from the UK Government and Driving for Better Business highlight the need for better work-related road safety.

• One in three severe and fatal road collisions involve individuals driving for work purposes.
• A concerning 40% of sleep-related road collisions involve commercial vehicles.
• An overwhelming 29,795 individuals faced death or severe injury on UK roads in 2022 alone.
• The average penalty for every non-compliance offence is £972, which means firms are faced with more than just financial implications to ensure their fleets operate safely and responsibly.

Benefits of the CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme

The CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme primarily helps you efficiently manage work-related road risks. By demonstrating safe and efficient vehicle operations, you can reap these benefits:

• Cost Savings: Committing to commercial vehicle compliance saves on repair costs and reduces insurance premiums. Moreover, it lowers operational expenses by decreasing fuel consumption and emissions.
• Enhanced Safety: Regular inspections and training under vehicle compliance improve the safety of contractors and employees. This focus on safety reduces the likelihood of accidents, injuries, and associated costs.
• Improved Efficiency and Reliability: Compliance ensures that vehicles are well-maintained and regularly inspected, leading to fewer breakdowns. This enhances productivity, customer satisfaction, and profitability.
• Competitive Advantage: Clients often prefer businesses prioritizing safety. By complying, you can build trust and establish long-term relationships with companies that are conscious of risks.
• Legal Compliance: Adhering to vehicle and driver compliance standards helps meet legal requirements, thus avoiding penalties and legal liabilities.

The CHAS Vehicle Compliance Scheme provides businesses with a comprehensive compliance solution, ensuring their commercial vehicles and drivers maintain and often exceed the highest safety benchmarks. As road safety remains a paramount concern, such initiatives are beneficial and pivotal in championing safer roads for all.