The Benefits of Road Safety.

RoSPA calculates that, after deep sea fishing and coal mining, driving 25,000 miles a year on business is the most life-threatening activity we undertake - more dangerous than working in construction.

The cost of an accident which one of your employees has been involved in and cost a great deal more than repair bills and inconvenience.

The key benefits of managing road safety among your employees covers a range of important areas:

1) It enables you to have greater control over costs which can cover:

a. Legal fees and claims
b. Insurance premiums
c. Absenteeism should an employee need time off for injuries sustained in an road traffic accident.

2) It also allows you to make decisions regarding matters such as driver training
and vehicle purchase, and helps you identify where health and safety improvements
can be made. Evidence has shown that the benefits from managing work-related road safety and reducing road traffic accidents cover:

a) Less lost time due to work rescheduling;
b) Less chance of key employees being banned from driving, eg as a result of points on their licences.
c) Reduced running costs through better driving standards; - fewer missed orders and business opportunities so reduced risk of losing the goodwill of customers;
d) Fewer vehicles off the road for repair
e) Fewer days lost due to injury;
f) Reduced stress and improved morale;
g) Reduced risk of work-related ill health;
h) Less need for investigation and paperwork;

3) Not only does promoting safe driving at work create a safer workforce. It also helps promote a feeling of worth among your employees. Also, the skills they learn will often rub off in their private driving – and generally make them more relaxed and safer drivers, which is good news for everyone!

Not only could businesses, directors and managers face criminal prosecutions in the event of an employee being involved in a road traffic accident, but there are increasing warnings that civil proceedings could be instigated by employees disgruntled at the work load, unsuitable vehicle condition and lack of care shown towards them by employers.

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