Company owners are being urged to provide staff with kit to help them drive more safely and educate them about the need to drive sensibly on work trips.

Andrew McGavin, the founder of BetterDrivingPlease.com, which contains details of reported incidents of dangerous driving, is warning that fewer than half of all business owners have policies in place to protect their employees and themselves against recent legislation.

"New corporate manslaughter legislation came into force in April which links a company's guilt to the gross negligence of an individual who is said to embody the company," he said.

"What that means in practice is if an executive driving on business is using a handheld mobile phone and kills someone, the managing director or chief executive could be prosecuted for not giving them a hands-free kit and having a relevant policy in place."