Visitors to Driving for Better Business’s stand at Fleet & Mobility Live, on October 3rd 4th at the NEC, Birmingham, will be able to play a game with a serious message.
The brake distance challenge is designed to get fleet and risk managers really thinking about the impact the actions of drivers have behind the wheel. Some one in three road collisions in Britain involves someone driving as part of their job – plus many more involving people travelling to or from their place of work.
The Health and Safety at Work Act requires employers to take appropriate steps to ensure the health and safety of their employees and others who may be affected by their activities when at work. This applies when driving in the same way as it does in the workplace: a well-maintained, properly loaded vehicle must be operated by a fit driver.
“The number of commercial vehicles, especially vans, on our roads has increased significantly over the last few years,” said Simon Turner, campaigns manager for Driving for Better Business (DfBB).
“The safety of those vehicles and the people driving them and, increasingly, the wellbeing of those drivers, is gaining ever more importance among employers who realise that good management of those who drive for work is critical, and that good safety management and efficient, high-performing companies go hand in hand.
“For those who manage occupational road risk, there’s a lot to learn, and a lot to communicate to drivers. We’re here to share resources, provide support and encouragement and help find any gaps in current operations.”
He added: “There is also a clear business case for managing work-related road risk and improving driver safety within your organisation.
Fewer road incidents mean fewer days lost to injury; fewer repairs to vehicles with vehicles out of action; fewer missed orders and overall reduced running costs. Now is the time to become better informed and start getting the benefits of better practice.”
