• BUMPER CARS
• I LIKE DRIVING IN MY CAR… (ON MY OWN)
• HARD DAYS LIGHT

• ANIMAL TRAGIC

• FUEL’S GOLD
• SEEING ‘RED’ OVER HIGH FUEL COSTS
• DRIVING “CONDITIONS”
• MANY HAPPY RETURNS?
• KICKING THE CO2 HABIT
• ‘GREEN’ FINGERS
• FROM AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TO GROUND TRAFFIC CONTROL
• CULTURE SHOCK
• DON’T DRIVE DROWSY
• ‘FOLLOW THAT STAR!’
• PULLING POWER
• The Darling Budget of March - 08
• Courtesy Cars - March 08
• Green Survey - Feb 08
• New congestion charge angers industry - Feb 08
• Midlands Excellence Award win - Jan 2008

ANIMAL TRAGIC

In George Orwell’s Animal Farm the mantra was ‘Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad’ as the beasts of the fields took over the farm.  But has their influence spread onto the highways with a new commandment ‘Four Wheels Bad’, as the animals reek their modern revenge on the humble motorist?

According to new figures from Masterlease’s sophisticated risk management software, there has been a growing trend of damage to company cars from a menagerie of wildlife with bills running into tens of thousands of pounds.

During 2007 animal damage cost the fleet management company’s customers almost £100,000 after vehicles were in collision with a variety of creatures – from badgers, cattle, deer and pheasants to pet dogs and cats.

There was even a case of ‘Jurassic parking’ as one fleet driver reversed his car into a giant model of a Tyrannosaurus Rex at a theme park, resulting in thousands of pounds worth of damage.

According to ProAct, Masterlease’s risk management software, the most common collision was with deer, accounting for 28 per cent of animal collisions. Pheasants caused 21 per cent of accidents and badgers, nine per cent. But the most dramatic incidents involved cattle which caused an average of £1100 worth of damage to each car, as well as obvious distress to the animals, the farmers and drivers.

Now Masterlease has issued advice to fleet managers about what to do in such cases to ensure that feathers or fur don’t fly, that their drivers remain within the law and that risk to drivers and animals is minimised.

The advice is linked to the Highway Code Rule 286 and section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 and even provides paintwork tips for motorists hit by the guano from incontinent birds!

The advice includes:

• If drivers are involved in a collision which causes damage or injury to any person, vehicle or animal, he or she must immediately stop
• They must provide contact details of the incident, or in the case of a collision with an animal report the matter as soon as is reasonably practical within 24 hours
• Keep within the speed limit on country lanes and observe animal danger signs
• Be extra vigilant early in the morning and at dusk as this is the time animals are more migratory – it is also the time when drivers tend to speed up if there in no traffic on the roads!
• Traffic signs in country areas now have reflector posts which warn animals of danger as they imitate predator red eye reflection
• Clean bird guano off paintwork immediately as it can damage the vehicle and impact on the residual value of company vehicles. An average cost of damaged paintwork is £329, according to Masterlease.

“It may seem quirky but accidents involving animal collisions are not funny. They can result in the deaths of the animals and in extreme cases, the drivers,” says Gavin Jones, risk management expert at Masterlease.

“We have seen a lot of incidents involving animal damage and it is also very expensive in terms of repairing the cars, not to mention time off the road. We advise fleet managers and drivers to follow the relevant sections of the Highway Code and the Road Traffic Act to keep safe and mobile, whether they live in rural areas or are on business there. Follow the countryside code and common sense when it comes to observing signs and the road ahead,” he adds.

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