November 16th – 22nd marks Road Safety Week, an important reminder of the role businesses play in keeping people safe on our roads.
For many organisations, driving for work is part of daily operations. Yet it is also one of the most dangerous things an employee can do. In the UK, around one third of all road fatalities involve someone driving for business purposes. That equates to 600 deaths every year and 450 serious injuries every week (Road Safety GB).
Employers have a legal duty to manage road safety risks in the same way they do for other areas of workplace health and safety. This applies whether staff drive company vehicles, grey fleet vehicles or are engaged through the gig economy.
Guidance and Resources
Good practice starts with the fundamentals: plan journeys carefully, make sure vehicles are safe and roadworthy and ensure no driver is asked to take risks such as missing breaks, speeding or using a mobile phone while driving. Monitoring driving behaviour and learning from near misses are also valuable steps.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offer detailed guidance on managing work related road risk, including risk assessment templates and advice on protecting vulnerable workers: HSE: Driving and riding safely for work.
For businesses looking to take part in Road Safety Week, Brake provides a range of free resources to help engage staff, customers and communities: Brake: Road Safety Week for Employers.
How We Can Support You
Road Safety Week is an ideal opportunity to show your commitment to safer roads. By involving your employees, suppliers and local community you can make a real difference.
If you would like advice on managing work related risk in your organisation, our team at Thomas Carroll is here to help. Please contact us on 02920 853731 or email tcms@thomas-carroll.co.uk.
