Road safety charity Brake has issued a free guide to improve the road safety of workers who drive as part of their job. The guidance targets small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and teaches them ways in which they can save money whilst ensuring their employees are safe on the road.
The Brake guide is available through the charity's Fleet Safety Forum and was drafted in collaboration with the Department for Transport. It highlights the measures small businesses can take to cut costs and reduce the risk of road accidents for both their workers and the community. The guidance includes tips on developing a road safety policy and ways to spread awareness with motorists about safe driving, as well as sample policies and downloadable resources.
The guide promotes best practices in road safety by providing several case studies from companies that have lowered their road risks and have generated significant benefits for their business as a result. Small firms can also find out how to evaluate fleet safety, gain senior buy-in, manage risks to motorists, vehicles and trips and also become familiar with steps to continually improve fleet safety.
Driving a vehicle is one of the most hazardous tasks people can perform whilst working, so it is imperative for companies of any size to try limit the risks associated, says Laura Woods, research and information officer at Brake. While it can be difficult for smaller businesses to launch effective fleet safety practices, the guide from Brake highlights very clearly how and where to start when embarking on such an initiative, she said, adding that the methods included in the guide are tried and tested.
15 April 2014
