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Drive safely

What is a sensible driving policy for your business and do you legally need to have a policy?

Businesses that employ five or more people must have a driving policy as part of their health and safety requirements.

The law requires employers to carry out an assessment of risk and to enforce a policy to minimise any potential risks identified. The policy should cover driving for work purposes but not an employee's ordinary commuting journey to and from home and their normal workplace. The policy should cover not only those driving work vehicles such as LGV, PSV and company cars but also employees using their own cars for work purposes.

Why is a policy important?

• There are an estimated three million company cars on the roads and roughly one in three will be involved in an accident each year.
• Company drivers who drive more than 80% of their annual mileage on work-related journeys have in excess of 50% more accidents involving injury than similar drivers who do no work-related mileage.
• Every week around 200 road deaths and serious injuries involve someone at work.
• About 300 people are killed each year as a result of drivers falling asleep at the wheel. About four in ten tiredness-related crashes involve someone driving a commercial vehicle.
• Work-related road accidents are the biggest cause of work-related accidental death. Between 800 and 1000 people are killed annually in work-related road traffic accidents compared to approximately 250 fatalities due to other accidents.
• Business drivers have collision rates that are 30% to 40% higher than those of private drivers.

What should your policy include?

You should first carry out an assessment of areas where there are potential hazards and the risk level these pose to employees. Where particular risk areas are identified these should be investigated to see if alternative arrangements or procedures can be put in place to effectively manage safe driving. A health and safety policy covering work-related road safety should be issued and enforced. Some of the points which employers should consider including in a safe driving policy for employees are:

• take regular breaks if travelling long distances
• be particularly vigilant if travelling early or late in the day, as at these times drivers are more likely to be tired or sleepy
• always observe speed restrictions
• carry first aid equipment
• have regular sight tests
• always carry details of the procedures to follow in case of emergency
• not to use mobile phones when driving unless a legal hands-free kit is used.

For detailed guidance on what to include in your policy the Department for Transport has set up a new area on their website, 'Driving for Work', which contains practical guidance to help businesses comply with their legal obligations. Visit www.dft.gov.uk.

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