A report released by Brake and the Licence Bureau has found employers whose staff drive for work could do more to train and educate them about the potentially fatal consequences of speeding.
The findings in the report are based on 131 organisations, covering nearly 26,000 vehicles and 40,000 people driving for work.
Brake is urging all employers with staff who drive for work to implement policies and procedures to ensure their drivers are fully aware of the dangers of speeding.
The key findings of the report include;
- Two in five organisations lack a speed policy, 65 percent of companies with a speed policy don’t have one that applies to external contractors. A third of speed policies don’t apply to senior management.
- Few companies are taking advantage of the full range of educational and training opportunities open to them, with only two in five asking questions relating to speed at recruitment or training during induction, and only three in ten providing additional training for drivers caught speeding
- Only a quarter of companies get involved with promoting speed awareness in their local communities, for example by supporting local training or education on speed.
Dr Tom Fisher, Brake’s senior research and communication officer, said: “It is worrying that many employers are lacking a coherent ‘speed strategy’. Speed is a critical factor in all road crashes and casualties. Our research shows that many companies can and should do more. This would help prevent the devastating impact of road death and injury, but also save companies money through reduced insurance premiums and improve their reputation within the community.”
Malcolm Maycock, director of Licence Bureau, said: “We all know that ‘Speed Kills’. However, we need to make our staff aware that it’s not just on the fastest roads, as motorways account for only five percent of all fatalities, rural roads 60 percent and urban roads 35 percent. Then take into account bent metal, where 85 percent is urban driving, ten percent rural and five percent motorway. Clearly driving too fast for the environment we are in will leave us without the time we need to stop. The reinforcement of this message by organisations is a positive for all.”
According to the report, speed is a factor in all collisions and is a primary contribution in a third of all UK road deaths.
Brake also claims that having a policy on speed – in the employee handbook, contracts, or provided separately by the organisation – is an essential step in improving road safety. Without a policy, it is far harder for drivers to be clear what is expected of them and for line managers and senior management to be clear on the organisation’s educational and disciplinary approach.
