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24 November 2005 - RoSPA Urge Bosses to
Heed Road Warning
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The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), in
light of the severe winter weather forecasts for the next few days, are urging
bosses to keep their employees' driving duties to a minimum and not to have them
travel unnecessarily.
RoSPA's Occupational Safety Adviser, Roger Bibbings, said:
"Driving for work was now recognised as the most dangerous
thing that most people did as part of their job.
"About 20 people were killed and 250 seriously injured every
week in crashes involving someone driving, riding or otherwise using the road
for work purposes."
“Employers should ensure they have systems in place to carry
out risk assessments to judge if journeys are really necessary, especially
during winter months when we see an increase in road accident rates.
“Obviously vital services have to be maintained, but employers need to ask
themselves if it is acceptable for their drivers to be on the road in conditions
such as thick fog, snow and ice.
“Would they be able to live with themselves if people died in a road accident
which resulted from a journey they had insisted on and yet which was not
absolutely necessary?
“Meetings may be able to be rescheduled or held by using video links or
teleconferencing. Even a simple telephone call will suffice on some occasions. A
safer mode of transport such as rail travel could also be considered.
“Employers need to be thinking about this issue now in the light of the forecast
of prolonged periods of severe weather this winter.”
Further information for employers who have employees driving as
part of their employment duties, can find lots of help and advice from the RoSPA
Road Safety for Employers website, which can be accessed by clicking the
following:
RoSPA : Road Safety: Resources for Employers
The Department for Transport have some good advice for driving
in bad weather conditions within their Think Road Safety Website, which
can be accessed by clicking the following:
UK Department for Transport | THINK! Road Safety
Article by Alexandra Johnston
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