Road Safety - United Utilities Operational Services’

One of Driving for Better Business champions is United Utilities Operational Services, which not only reduced its accident crash rate but has also saved considerable sums by introducing a road safety map.

The UK’s largest utility company has reduced its accident frequency by a third.
United Utilities Operational Services’ (UUOS) operations have a fleet of 1,700 vehicles including 1,250 vans, almost 400 company cars and 60 light goods vehicles.

Additionally, some 1,800 employees drive their own cars on work-related journeys.
Last year, UUOS, which self-insurers its fleet, saw its incident frequency cut from 55% to 34% compared with 2008 levels.

As a result, average vehicle repair costs have reduced from £1,136 in 2008 to £780 in 2009 due to both a decline in the number and severity of incidents.

The reduction in crash frequency and repair costs was thanks to the company’s new road safety road map, which refocused both the business and drivers’ attention on how crashes can be avoided and costs saved.

“UUOS is committed to the principle that road traffic accidents are not an acceptable fact of life but serious, costly and often avoidable events,” explained head of transport Gary Banister, who championed the new strategy.

“We will take all reasonable steps to ensure as far as reasonably practicable that employees driving at work do so in a manner that reduces the risk to themselves, other employees or any other person who could be affected.”

Banister, who was named Van Fleet Manager of the Year in the 2009 by Fleet Van, added: “Not only has UUOS recorded a significant reduction in the number of accidents and claim costs, but all other associated costs such as third party claims, uninsured loss recovery and sickness pay for staff have reduced as a result of improved driving behaviour and management.”

A central feature of the roadmap is that drivers are encouraged to personally risk-assess themselves and their journeys.

The safety strategy identifies risks around vehicles, drivers and journeys, as well improving driver behaviour and competence and enhancing vehicle and driving licence checks.

This year UUOS is aiming for 100% online checking of driver licence status and for all drivers to have been risk assessed.

Compliance checks are measured through the business’s ‘dashboard KPI’ initiative, which set benchmarks and measure vehicle repair and maintenance, fuel management, accident management and tyre management.

Additionally UUOS benchmarks its safety performance against other organisations and against customer satisfaction.

As a result UUOS has become the latest ‘business champion’ of the Government-backed ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign, which is delivered by RoadSafe.