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Companies must redouble their efforts to cut crashes involving vehicles on 
commuting journeys and business trips following publication of alarming new Government figures.
Flagship can reveal that according to the Department for Transport’s annual report into road casualties in Britain in 2007, 27.1% of the 334,966 vehicles involved in crashes were being driven either on a work-related journey or on a commute. That compares with 26.7% of the 348,059 vehicles in 2006.
While the number of people killed and injured in road crashes last year dropped against 2006’s figures as did the number of vehicles involved in road crashes, there was only a marginal reduction in the number of vehicles involved in crashes being driven by employees.
Fleet Support Group has been at the forefront of the campaign to reduce crashes involving at-work drivers and commuters for almost a decade through its continually evolving RiskMaster product.
Chairman Geoffrey Bray said: “I am shocked at the data that we have uncovered. It is clear that many companies are failing to take notice of the calls by ourselves, Government, the police and organisations such as RoadSafe and Brake that actively encourage organisations to focus on road safety.
“Introducing a comprehensive vehicle, driver and journey-related action plan has numerous benefits in terms of cost savings, improved business efficiency and reduced administration and engenders a feeling of goodwill across a company.
“Not only that, but the law demands that companies have vehicle and driver audits in place. The volume of legislation now in place - most recently the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act - means that the likelihood of a company being prosecuted following a crash is now much greater.”
Of the 334,966 vehicles (2006: 348,059) involved in crashes last year, 90,877 (2006: 93,240) were cars, vans, HGVs, buses/coaches, motorbikes and bicycles were being driven/ridden on either a business trip or a commute. With cars accounting for almost two thirds of those vehicles.
While, the actual number of crashes involving vehicles on business trip or a commute may be lower, the underlying trend is rising as the total number of vehicles involved in accidents declines at a faster rate.
Mr Bray concluded: “Almost 250 vehicles every single day of the year being driven on a journey either as part of work or a commute to or from work were involved in a road crash last year. The inconvenience that causes to business in terms of meeting/appointment schedules and staff off work is colossal, before the human impact on families and loved ones is taken into account.
“Businesses across the board must wake up to the reality of the crisis and take action to improve the road safety record of their employees.”
The Department for Transport’s ‘Road Casualty Statistics Great Britain: 2007 Annual Report’ can be accessed at:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesgbar/ |
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