Road safety charity Brake is calling on fleet operators across the UK to ensure their mechanics are properly trained and qualified so as to improve the safety of their vehicles.

According to the organisation, vehicle defects are a factor in around 2,000 crashes on the UK's roads each year and this figure could be greatly reduced should all businesses ensure their mechanics are up to the required standard.

Brake's data shows almost two thirds (63 per cent) of fleets outsource their vehicle maintenance programmes, but it may be worthwhile ensuring the standards of these services are regularly examined – something that 52 per cent of respondents to the study stated they are not currently doing.

Laura Woods, research and information officer at Brake, commented: "Fleet managers have a duty to ensure their vehicles are safe, well-maintained and roadworthy, and that the mechanics working on their vehicles are fully qualified."

She added the report has highlighted some worrying gaps in safe fleet maintenance for some firms.

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Posted by Clare Lafferty, Account Manager, The Fuelcard People.