Driving for work

Each week in the UK, around 200 road deaths and serious injuries involve someone driving whilst at work and around a third of all crashes are estimated to involve someone who was at work at the time.

This means that up to 1,000 lives are lost in the UK each year through driving for work.

If you drive for work make sure that you:

  • Check out your employer’s ‘driving at work’ policy and talk to your employer about driving assessment and training.
  • Check your vehicle and make sure it is well maintained – this saves time in the long run and helps avoid accidents.
  • Plan your journey well and allow yourself plenty of time – this will help avoid the temptation of speeding and trying to read maps whilst driving.  It also costs you less if you don’t speed.
  • Ensure that you switch off your mobile phone while travelling. If you are an employer and you call someone who is driving, you could contribute to driver distraction which could result in a crash and you could end up in prison.
  • Wear a seat belt at all times. Despite contrary belief, van and goods vehicles are only exempt from wearing seat belts when making deliveries less than 50 metres apart.
  • Programme your destination into a satellite navigation system before you start your journey and not when you’re already on the road.
  • Don’t speed – it really isn’t worth you being fined and getting points on your licence and it’s better to arrive late than not to arrive at all!

95 Alive can offer your company Driver Training and workshops aimed at increasing the awareness of driving for work, contact 95alive@northyorks.gov.uk for more information.

Managing Occupational Road Risk

Some employers believe, incorrectly, that provided they comply with certain road traffic law requirements, for example that company vehicles have a valid MOT certificate, and that drivers hold a licence, this is enough to ensure the safety of their employees, and others, on the road. However, health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities as to all work activities, and the risks need to be effectively managed.

Please use the following leaflets and posters in your establishment

Below are some guides on how to effectively manage the risks, courtesy of Rospa.

Useful links

The Fleet Safety Association