UK businesses ‘left exposed’ by lack of road safety policy

12.00 | 14 July 2017 | | 5 comments

More than a fifth of UK companies whose employees drive for work have no road safety policy in place, new research suggests.

TomTom Telematics interviewed senior managers at 400 UK businesses and found that 21% have no road safety policy – while a further 4% of those interviewed didn’t know whether their organisation has a defined policy.

Published yesterday (13 July), the research also found that 57% of companies provide driving training, and of those that do 38% provide it once every six months or less.

53% of respondents said their businesses provide drivers with ‘technological tools’ or driver aids to help them drive more safely.

Beverley Wise, TomTom Telematics, said: “Driving is one of the most high-risk activities the majority of workers will conduct as part of their job, but is too often seen as a poor relation when it comes to workplace health and safety.

“A best-practice approach is necessary if companies are to effectively safeguard staff and reduce their risk exposure. If the appropriate action is not taken, they could even leave themselves open to prosecution under the Health and Safety at Work Act or Corporate Manslaughter legislation should employees be killed or seriously injured.”

60% of respondents said staff members had been involved in road traffic collisions while on business duty, with 78% of those claiming the incident resulted in lost productivity.

Beverley Wise added: “A proactive approach to road safety can deliver further business benefits.

“By employing technology to monitor driver behaviour and providing drivers with live feedback, supported by targeted coaching and training, it is possible to reduce fuel spend, cut insurance premiums and boost productivity.”

 

 

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    It is a pity that the Health and Safety Executive is so reluctant to take oversight of injuries outside of the site.


    Paul Teddington
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    It would be interesting to find out if there’s a correlation between the tendency for certain individuals to have collisions whilst ‘driving for work’ and for those same individuals to have a tendency to be involved in collisions whist not driving for work – in other words, it’s not the driving for work bit, or even the vehicle – but the person.


    Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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    A lot of people driving for work are using their own vehicle. While I accept that a number of drivers will treat the company van with disdain, I think a lot of pressure comes from employers through deadlines and difficult work schedules.

    Employers have a duty of care to employees, and anyone they come into contact with. They should all be looking to minimise the potential risk.

    I would add that having a current driving licence, is no indicator of driving ability, or suitability for a driving role, yet a lot of employers seem to think that having a licence is good enough.


    Darren Dowd, East Sussex
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    One other thing about driving for work – if the vehicle used is not the type the driver would use for personal transportation i.e. a van – not the most refined, smoothest and stylish vehicles to drive – perhaps this instills a ‘don’t care’ mindset in their drivers – almost as if not driving one’s vehicle of choice, temporarily suspends what might be their normal respectful style of driving. If I had to drive around in a relatively crude, noisy van, I’d probably want the journey to end quickly as well. Just a thought.


    Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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    Any bad habits and poor driver behaviour of those who are ‘driving for work’ are no different from those who are not ‘driving for work’ at the time and such behaviour is already prohibited or otherwise regulated by motoring laws and the Highway Code, so in that sense a road safety policy is in place – it’s the same one for everyone. An impatient driver taking chances is the same risk whether they’re ‘at work’ or not.


    Hugh Jones, Cheshire
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