Load security, tyre safety, compliance, collision investigation and the health and wellbeing of older professional drivers are among the topics to be discussed at a free-to-attend conference for commercial vehicle fleet operators.
Statistics show that commercial vehicles are involved in more than 32% of killed and seriously injured collisions on the Strategic Road Network across the north west of England. The new conference will set out to understand the issues behind these casualty statistics.
The conference – titled ‘Commercial Vehicle Safety: The Challenges & Opportunities’ – is being organised by Highways England and the five road safety partnerships in the north west – Cheshire Road Safety Group, Cumbria Road Safety Partnership, Lancashire Road Safety Partnership, Merseyside Road Safety Partnership and Safer Roads Greater Manchester.
It will be held at Haydock Park Racecourse on Wednesday 2 October.
The agenda is currently under development but confirmed speakers include:
- Richard Leonard, head of road safety, Highways England
- Nina Day, HSE’s Health & Safety Laboratory (load security)
- Inspector Keith Kellett, North West Motorway Police Group (compliance)
- Vickie Goodair, regional manager, Driving for Better Business
- Graham Willson, CEO, British Tyre Manufacturing Association (DfT consultation on older tyres)
- PC Pete Brachanic, Cheshire Police (collision investigation)
- Carl Milton, CEMEX (safe road sharing)
- Dr Sheena Johnson, Alliance Manchester Business School (wellbeing of older professional drivers)
The collision risk on north west roads is highest in June and September and a significant number of the drivers involved are males aged 46-55 years – with fatigue identified as a factor in many instances.
The conference will set out to understand the issues behind these casualty statistics, and provide a set of tools and resources to help fleet operators improve their safety performance and reduce collisions.
The conference is aimed at owners, senior managers and fleet managers from organisations operating commercial vehicle fleets of all sizes from 3.5 tonne upwards.
For more information, or to register to attend (FOC), visit the conference website or contact Nick Rawlings or Sally Bartrum on 01379 650112.
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