The Health and Safety Executive has provided an update to its 'Driving at work: managing work-related road safety' guide, which makes essential reading for any firm that employs drivers of any kind. The new guidance has been fully reviewed and improved.æ It contains a number of examples of activities that firms can take in order to manage road risk within their fleets, and it also contains signposts pointing at further information from relevant companies such as road safety charity Brake. The guide can be downloaded for free from the Health and Safety Executive Website here. According to the latest figures from the Department for Transport (DfT), at least one-in-four road casualties in Britain involve a motorist driving in a personal capacity.æ Companies that operate fleets can help to lower the figures by implementing proven safety processes and practises.æ Indeed, companies who take the time to more effectively manage their road risk usually report an improvement in staff morale, as well as an overall reduction in motoring costs. Brake continues to provide guidance and tools to organisations with drivers on their staff, primarily through their own Fleet Safety Forum.æ In addition to this, the charity recently produced their own 'Essential guide to fleet safety' guide, with support from the DfT.æ This is available for free here. Julie Townsend, the deputy chief executive for Brake, said: "Driving is the riskiest activity most employees engage in, and a huge proportion of devastating road casualties involve someone who's driving on company time. It's therefore essential that organisations with staff who drive for work are aware of the simple, low-cost steps they can take to protect their drivers and the public. "I would urge all organisations with employees who drive on work time to read this updated HSE guidance, alongside Brake's essential guide to fleet safety, to ensure their risk management policies and practices are up to date and in line with best practice."
