Directors in the district are being warned that they could end up in jail for allowing employees to drive dangerously.

Bradford, Ilkley and Shipley solicitors Last Cawthra Feather is urging firms to take action following a crackdown by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Employment law specialist Elizabeth Henry said: "There are three million company car drivers in the UK and they are 50 per cent more likely to have accidents than the general motorist.

"In the past police have prosecuted the driver involved and rarely considered the employer to blame, but this is set to change."

Following the recent case of a lorry driver who was jailed for five years after killing a pedestrian the HSE is considering a range of new measures.

These include introducing a more rigorous driving test and drawing up codes of conduct.