By RAM Tracking on 1 Nov 2024
In 2015 alone, of the 45,859 work-related road casualties, more than 500 people were killed, and almost 5,000 were seriously injured, while more than 40,000 people were slightly injured in collisions that involved a driver (or passenger) driving for work purposes.
It is, therefore, crucial that you take steps to help reduce the risks associated with driving at work. To achieve that, you can start with employee driver license checks and vehicle checks, especially if you have drivers that spend their entire day driving (i.e. maintenance workers or company representatives).
First of all, make sure your drivers are:
Check the driving records of all the employees that hit the road for work purposes. Those with poor driving records should be screened out as they increase the risk of causing a problem in the future. It is best to review the Motor Vehicle Record frequently to make sure your employees' driving records remain stellar.
All vehicles should be checked daily before the employee begins their trip. It is an effective and simple way to spot potentially hazardous issues before your fleet is used. Once you make it a habit, it won't take more than 5 minutes to complete these walkaround checks, which can be performed by the drivers themselves or a mechanic you trust.
The DVLA offer a sample daily vehicle checklist that you can use for your fleet. However, you can create your own vehicle inspection routine depending on your specific requirements and, of course, the types of vehicles you have in your fleet. For example, the checklist for van drivers to carry out is not the same as the one drivers of HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicles) must complete.
Note: Instruct your employees to conduct vehicle inspections both before and after the scheduled trip and report defaults (if any).
When adding a new addition to your company fleet, always select properly maintained vehicles that have been routinely inspected. The vehicle information should demonstrate “best in class” status for crash-worthiness.
That aside, look for advanced safety features, such a rear-facing cameras, collision warning systems, adaptive cruise control, and lane departure warning systems. These can increase the safety of your employees when driving the company vehicles. You may also take ergonomic considerations into account (i.e the driving position and how easily or not the driver can access the controls) before leasing or buying new company vehicles.
Routine preventive maintenance is also necessary to ensure all company vehicles are kept in excellent road-safe condition. Schedule maintenance checks (use a vehicle tracking system like RAM Tracking to remind you of important maintenance dates via email alert) of safety-related equipment at specific mileage intervals. This should always be in line with the manufacturer's recommendations, and you should have a mechanic do a thorough inspection of the vehicles at least once a year.
Remember that an MOT certificate does not cover more than just basic defects. Therefore, it does not guarantee the safety of a vehicle. This is why carrying out preventive maintenance is significant.
Finally, if your employees drive their own vehicles for company business, their maintenance is generally the owner's responsibility. Nevertheless, they should also be maintained in a manner that reflects positively on the company and, of course, provides the driver with maximum safety.
Needless to say, all maintenance and repairs should be carried out to an acceptable standard.
If your drivers transport equipment or tools that could cause a road accident, ensure they are properly secured so that they cannot move around when they are being transferred. Do the same with any objects that may become a hazard.
It should be noted that when the driver makes sudden maneuvers, any loose objects might become airborne or slide around. This could result in the injury of the driver and any passengers. The same can occur during a crash. You should follow the Government guidance on driving special loads or dangerous goods to ensure your loads remain safe.
Managing the risks faced by your employees on the road through carefully planned workplace driver safety programs and vehicle checks will help protect your organisation's financial and human resources.
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