Now, road safety charity Brake is calling on businesses to pay more attention to driver-education and ensure employees are not under pressure to take risks like speeding or driving when tired.
Brake said Department for Transport statistics showed that last year there were 858 deaths and 6,622 serious injuries in crashes involving at-work drivers - an increase of nine per cent from 2005.
But Brake believes the the actual figure could be much higher, with indications that at-work casualties were being under-reported by the police.
Jools Townsend, of Brake, said: "It's shocking that so many people are killed or hurt due to at-work driver crashes - and the reality could be even worse than these statistics suggest.
"The government must ensure a more stringent approach to collecting data on at-work crashes, so we can fully understand the extent of the problem."She went on: "We're urging businesses to wake up to the need to manage and reduce risks faced by employees driving for work, and the risks posed to others.
"That means having a comprehensive safe driving policy, to ensure drivers are not under pressure to take risks like speeding or driving when tired, and educating drivers on the consequences of breaking rules behind the wheel."
What do you think? Have your say. Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
A lot of low paid driving jobs are the worst offenders.I know quite a lot of courrier firms that take on to many jobs to try and make money,by doing this they put the drivers under great stress and pressure.These include our driving hours for heavy goods drivers trying to get more done in the hours they have..We need to slow down a little.
Who pays for these surveys?
The roads are the 'at work drivers' place of work, accidents happen in the work place. Why should the police under-report the casualties? If Brake believe the figures could be much higher what use are he figures they have released?
My own figures show that in 100% of road accidents, at least one vehicle is involved
(can I get paid for that).
" The roads are the 'at work drivers' place of work "
What ? ... , my job involves driving company vehicles on the public highway, thats what this report refers to, basically the reports saying people dont care how they drive when its someone elses vehicle.
It's true.
I myself am a bus driver and have timetables to keep to. If I don't keep the bus to the timetable I risk getting a roasting from the boss.
Whilst I do not condone speeding or uncourtious driving, sometimes the pressure I am under leaves me no choice.
I have had two fault crashes on the buses and both were through rushing which goes to prove if drivers were not under such time pressures, most accidents would not happen.
City 78 Failsworth:
You only seem to mention the times you are late, not the times you are early and dawdling along at 15-20mph causing all the congestion this council wants to charge us for.
Who pays for these surveys? The roads are the 'at work drivers' place of work, accidents happen in the work place. Why should the police under-report the casualties? If Brake believe the figures could be much higher what use are he figures they have released?
The surveys are payed for by the Government - Brake are actually a registered 'charity'
The Gov's accident figures are derived from police reports. There are less Traffic police so therefore less reporting and thus accident rates have gone down. Brake are refering to the Hospital rates which show injuries and Fatalities have risen
What use are Brake? - Gov funded anti car nutters
Businesses pressurise drivers because they seek profits -
"The Fleet Safety Forum, a division of
Brake, is a scheme for anyone with an interest in making roads safer through better road risk management.
The Forum provides an opportunity for information exchange for managers who receive monthly mailings, including newsletter, information sheets, and dis-
counted invitations to conferences and workshops.Subscribers also receive a copy of the Forum’s low cost guide to ‘Managing Road Risk’ (£8.50 + p&p), which
offers straightforward management advice to help companies manage their occupational road risk. To subscribe to the Fleet Safety Forum costs just £85
(+VAT) per year"