A legal support package aimed at keeping transport companies and businesses with vehicle fleets on the road will be showcased at the BIBA 2014 exhibition at Manchester Central.
Stephensons Solicitors LLP, a leading law firm with a national reputation in transport and motoring law, has developed Carry on Driving, to directly assist those in the transport industry.
The service is an essential bolt-on for brokers seeking to add value to existing insurance policies. It encompasses access to a 24/7 telephone legal helpline for all business owners, managers and employees covering investigations and prosecutions for road traffic/transport, environmental and health and safety offences.
As Stephensons is a full service law firm with experts specialising in all areas of law, the firm can offer bespoke additions to the service which includes employment law and HR advice, road safety compliance consultancy and training and fixed price legal representation at PACE interviews, criminal court hearings, public inquiries and driver conduct hearings.
Another new element to Carry on Driving is a road incident reporting line (IRL). This has two main purposes – to provide advice and guidance in the immediate aftermath of a road traffic incident or accident and to assist employers towards health and safety compliance with regard to work-related driving.
Mark Fenning, associate solicitor and business development manager at Stephensons, said: “Carry on Driving has evolved from being purely a legal helpline into a full-service benefit for transport businesses and those with vehicle fleets. It’s backed by our Regulatory and Commercial teams, which both have years of experience acting for businesses involved in road transport.
“The incident reporting line is an essential service for businesses with drivers. People who are driving for work are often the only occupant of the vehicle and are classed as lone workers. Employers have an enhanced duty of care to lone workers to ensure that they are not put at more risk than other employees by virtue of their working conditions. Drivers can contact the instant reporting line in the event of being involved in any incident or accident on the road. This assists employers towards Health and Safety compliance by providing lone worker support and reports which are then used in the investigation of incidents and accidents and subsequent review and revision of policies and procedures.”
All aspects of the Carry on Driving service will be showcased at BIBA 2014 on May 14th and 15th. Visitors to the Stephensons stand will be able to view a short film which explains the key features of Carry on Driving (also available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhqjforFrqE) and find out more about the service from Stephensons’ staff. Visitors can also enter a free prize draw for a bottle of Champagne.
Visit Stephensons on stand B86 or email Mark Fenning on wmf@stephensons.co.uk to find out more.