I have recently issued a reminder out to staff where I work of the pre-use vehicles checks that we require them to carry out before using a hire/lease vehicle for duty purposes. The staff mainly work in an office environment and the checks include issues such as tyre pressure, working brakes (including fluid levels), sufficient washer fluid, etc.

A couple of comments have come back asking what PPE/training do we intend issuing to staff to aid them in carrying out their checks.

I would be interested to know people's opinions on the need to issue PPE, and how this is currently handled elsewhere.

I'd give folks access to gloves suitable for engine oil - probably the same ones we issue to our first aiders, the blue latex-free ones. I check that they were oil-suitable first of course.

As for training - contentious point! I was heavily barracked a couple of years back when I gave a presentation to our company car drivers about pre-driving checks. I protested that we weren't asking for anything needing any special skills, just "the same checks you do regularly on your own car". A couple of people - the ones who hadn't complained in the first place - just nodded, the remainder looked at each other blankly and shrugged.

My position is that I shouldn't have to train anyone in basic car checks, just the same as I'm not going to teach them how to change gear: Both are basic skills which any car driver should have** However, if anyone wants a refresher, I'm quite happy for them to ask me or one of their colleagues who does know, safety being more important than my dogma about what people shouldn't need to be told.

Hopefully, now that the driving test requires a basic competence in doing the checks this'll become less of a problem as time goes on, but it isn't going to be overnight.

** OK, I know some people have automatic-only licences...

Provided you are using a repitable national car hire company these things are checked before the vehicle is sent out of the depot along with a full fuel tank. That way the hire company covers itself against defects and possible failures of the vehicle which can cause them a lot of problems and very high cost of recovery etc. Check with your car hire company that they will specifically check all the normal maintenance issues and provide you with a written undertaking that all cars supplied are checked before they are delivered. Simple checks should be carried out after the vehicle has been used though such as tyres are correctly inflated, the lights work, etc. Most car hires are generally for a few days so when they are checked by the hire company you can rely upon that as sufficient.

Feel I need to add a 'but' here. If you are stopped by the police and the vehicle is not roadworthy, you may be held to account. My company uses a couple of car hire companies of international reknown. I once went to pick up a hire car at an airport and found that three of the tyres fitted had tread depth below the legal minimum!

This surprised me as the car wasn't even that old! (but if I was cynic I would point out that the car was being returned to a different airport).

Reality check

You state: Check tyre pressures. What with? Do you really expect all your employees to carry tyre pressure and presumably tread depth gauges in their suit pocket when they go to pick up that hire car?
And don't rely on the filling station gauge entirely. I have a precision pressure tester and it is interesting how the measurements from this differ from those on the forecourt.
And what about a paper wipe when checking the oil level?
Chris

Smurf

I am aware of the depth indicator, but I have seen tyres where this appeared OK but due to wheel imbalance on the part of the tyre that was not easily visible the tread depth was locally below the legal limit. When I carry out a tread depth measurement I always try to do this at several locations on the tyre for this very reason. I can reach the parts with a gauge that you cannot easily see.

Chris

Basic vehicle checks are often overlooked and as a previous poster stated if pulled over the driver of the vehicle is directly responsible for the condition of the vehicle - "The hire company didn't do the checks" will not wash with a trafpol when they pull a driver - driver will still get a rectification notice and may even end up with a FPN.

As for hire co's I've had several vehicles from 'reputable' companies where typical faults have been tyre related - usually tread depth and incorrect pressures.


Basic vehicles checks can be remembered using 'POWER'

Petrol / fuels - what level and is there enough for the journey including delays for traffic / poor weather

Oils / fluids - Engine oil, power steering, brake fluids - With the exception of engine oil most vehicles have clear resevoirs with min/max markings so no contact with the fluids required

Water - Bottle wash is it full? Is there soap and anti freeze additive/screenwash in there? Coolant water - Checking for antifreeze in coolant may be considered OTT for basic checks but again basic levels can be checked in the resevoir.

Electrics - Do the warning lights on the dash come up and clear when the ignition is switched on? Are all the lights working (interior and exterior), most vehicle batteries are of a sealed type with an 'indicator window' so again no contact with chemicals - Again I would consider checking cells on non sealed batteries OTT for basic checks

Rubber - Tyres for tread depth, pressure, nicks digs and debris in the tread - Don't forget the spare where fitted ! Wiper blades - are they curled over, split, nicked or gummed up?


Whilst drivers should know about vehicle checks, it is not taught by driving schools, nor is it part of the driving test (though it is due to be introduced as an element) and judging by the number of surveys that the likes of the AA and RAC do year after year it would appear that many drivers do not know how to do basic vehicle checks, certainly in my experience of teaching vehicle check to company car drivers it held that very few 'drivers' have an interest or knowledge in the basics of keeping a vehicle roadworthy.

I did contact the manufacturers of the disposable gloves that are supplied at petrol stations and ask if they were suitable for contact with engine oil (for the purposes of checking a dipstick and they confirmed that they were.

In an attempt to clarify who is responsible for the condition of the vehicle I've just had a look at the Road Traffic Act and it states that 'A person is guilty of an offence if he uses, or causes or permits another to use, a motor vehicle...when the condition of the motor vehicle...is such that the use of the motor vehicle...involves a danger of injury to any person.'

So does this mean the responsibility lies with the driver (as he(she) uses the vehicle) or the hire company (who permits another to use the vehicle)??

I have a link to a blog promoting a new product specifically related to this question. As it is promoting a product I won't put the link on here but anyone interested please feel free to send me a PM and I will send you the link.

In response to the initial question on the 6th January. No you have not asked anyone with a driving licence to carry out anything that should be outside their capability. Whether in a suit or a skirt they are all functions drivers could and should carry out. As for PPE I would imagine latex gloves would suffice. You have fallen foul of the "why should we bother brigade" in requesting what training and PPE is required.
When the man with the blue light stops you I am sure he will listen to all the arguments and points raised here and at the end will quote "Who's the driver then Sir/Madam"

On a lighter note you could issue a hard hat in case the bonnet drops on their head and safety boots in case the car runs over their toes because they did not know where the handbrake was.

The last hire car I picked up was at a UK airport at night and in the rain. Being somewhat newer than my own car it took me over ten minutes to work out how to start it as it had no key, it also had a button rather than a handbrake and a combined radio and air-con unit that I never quite worked out.

Whilst obviously a very good practice, the suggestion that everyone should (or even could) carry out the suggested checks everytime would at best be laughed at and ignored by virtually everyone. By all means remind them and advise of the consequences but no-one should seriously expect any level of compliance.