"Drive" is a crime drama movie about a Hollywood, Calif. stunt performer who moonlights as a getaway driver. Actor Ryan Gosling plays the main character, who finds that the act of driving offers both opportunities and risks. Companies and their risk managers increasingly reach the same conclusion.

Many companies own motorized vehicles, ranging from a handful to hundreds or more. These certainly make it easier to conduct business. Often, they are an employee "perk" or benefit. With benefits, though, come risks. Accidents and collisions involving company vehicles can exact a heavy toll. Physical damage to company vehicles is expensive to fix. Downtime from repairs and damage can erode a firm's productivity. Employee injuries from company vehicle accidents can spawn workers' compensation claims and detrimentally impact productivity. Third-party liability claims—both for property damage and bodily injury—can create devastating financial consequences in the form of settlements, awards, and higher insurance premiums.

While fleet vehicle risks and accidents have been present since the invention of the car, they seem more acute now. Increasingly, drivers compete for space on congested roads. Traffic infrastructure degrades with the passage of time. Stress, driver fatigue, aggressive delivery quotas, and road rage can spur irrational behavior. Distractions such as text messaging and cell phones can divert drivers' attentions, increasing road risks.