Fleets fitting Dawes Highway Safety’s PeoplePanels and DawesGuard to commercial vehicles to protect vulnerable road users from death and injury could secure insurance premiums discounts.
Finch Group, the independent insurance broker with more than 5,000 commercial clients and 2,000 private clients, says the technology preventing vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists, cyclists and pedestrians from being crushed under the wheels of commercial vehicles is a major road safety breakthrough.
The PeoplePanels and DawesGuard can be fitted to a wide range of commercial vehicles ranging from 3.5-tonne units to four-wheel tippers and articulated lorries with trailers.
Finch Group, which has offices in Basingstoke, Isle of Wight, Reading and Southampton, works with the UK’s largest insurers and trades in the Lloyd’s of London market, offers haulage insurance schemes for single HGVs to fleets of 100+ vehicles.
Stewart Pease, automotive manager, Finch Group, said: “We are working closely with Dawes Highway Safety to help clients positively influence their insurance premiums, having recognised the safety benefits of the products offered by the company.
“Risk management is a hot topic with insurers, therefore the PeoplePanels and DawesGuard will be viewed as a pro-active step in reducing the potential risk of injury or death caused to vulnerable road users.”
The technology, which is accredited by both the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) and Construction Logistics and Community Safety (CLOCS), has already been adopted by safety-focused fleets that include BP McKeefry, Co-op, Keltbray, Mick George, Tarmac and Travis Perkins.
What’s more, fleets fitting the innovative technology are also reaping fuel economy savings as the side panels reduce drag under a truck and trailer.
Paul Holmes, commercial director, PeoplePanels, said: “We are delighted that Finch Group has recognised that the PeoplePanels and DawesGuard are a major step forward in commercial vehicle occupational road risk management.
“The beauty of the PeoplePanels and DawesGuard is in their simplicity, cost, ease of fitment and proven ability. The return on investment through potential insurance premium savings is immediate with the added spin-off benefit of improved vehicle MPG. The question for fleet and transport managers is can they afford not to fit the technology?”
P Jones - 17/05/2017 08:34
With over 30 years in the industry I'm very concerned in the claims that are being made in regards to safety and the improved MPG - from the sellers website there are no official test figures in MPG savings any Haulier will tell you the issues with cross winds and anything in its way will only add to fuel usage (wind tunnel specifically designed deflectors are available/fitted to modern fleets that do assist). I'm sorry to have to burst somebodies bubble but unless this is immediately substantiated (which anyone in the industry will understand cannot be) I feel this claim must be raised with trading standards, FORS etc.