Why Train?

At least 300 of the 1,200 drivers killed on Britain's roads every year are driving while at work, according to TUC estimates. The TUC uses official road traffic data to show that more people die at the wheel of their company car, van or lorry than at their workplace.

According to the Health and Safety Commission (HSC), some 249 employed and self-employed workers were fatally injured at work in 2000/2001.

Who is at risk from at-work road injury?

A wide range of workers are at risk, not just commercial vehicle drivers, but anyone using their own or a company car or other vehicle, regularly or occasionally during their working day.

The police record the type of vehicle involved in fatal crashes. In 1998, 46 drivers of light goods vans and 52 drivers of heavy goods vehicles were killed on the road.

These figures prove that most of the 300 work-related deaths at the wheel involve a company car or owner-driver.

Is driving at work dangerous?

Yes. Driving long distances (around 25,000 miles a year) is the third most dangerous occupation in the UK, according to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).

RoSPA estimates, based on official accident-at-work statistics, show that:

Anyone usually driving 25,000 miles a year stands a 1:8,000 chance of being killed.

There is a higher chance of being killed at the wheel of a car than being killed working on a building site

This amount of driving is almost as risky as working down a coal mine, where there is a one in 7,100 chance of suffering a fatality each year.

What is the government doing?

As part of the Government's road safety strategy, it has set up an independent Work-related Road Safety Task Group. In 2002, the Task Force issued a wide range of recommendations, including:

Employers should adopt the risk assessment approach to at-work road safety, in much the same way as they tackle any other workplace risks. Employers should use their risk assessments to make sure their employees are competent to drive, or work on the roadside, safely.

Managers should provide training on at-work road safety.

The police should ask questions about journey purpose when investigating traffic accidents.

The police should use their powers to pursue employers who fail to meet their responsibilities under road traffic law.

The HSC should investigate better data collection of at-work road injuries.

The HSC says it is committed to issuing at-work road risk guidance for employers by 2004. It supports a stronger role for the police, and wants employers to manage at-work road safety within their existing health and safety management arrangements.

Your Health & Safety Responsibilities

The Health & Safety at Work Act states that employers have a responsibility to ensure the safety of their employees who drive at work and to ensure others are not put at risk by their work-related driving activities.

The new corporate manslaughter bill working its way through parliament makes companies and employers responsible in law for the driving behaviour of their employees. Custodial sentences will be handed out to those found guilty of not actively improving the driving of their employees, particularly those they know that are at risk of further crashes through poor driving habits.