HR departments will have to be extra careful from 2002, when new rules come in to make sure employees drive safely.

Under rules, which could be introduced in 2002, business owners may face heavy fines or even jail if their workers are involved in road accidents. Bosses would have to show that they have systems in place to prevent crashes.

Firms will not be able to just hand over car keys.

They will have to:

• ask about drivers' licences and accident records;
• make sure that vehicles are safe;
• make sure there is nothing in the work system that could be dangerous;
• make sure there are no pressures on the employee which mean they may have to return quickly. (bonus schemes that creates an incentive to speed or tight deadlines)