NEWLY-released statistics have revealed that a quarter of deaths on British roads involve at-work drivers, with 16 people dying and 117 seriously injured every week.

The figures, from police records for 2005, represent the first publication of the exact death toll of at-work drivers. It was the first year the police began recording the journey purpose of vehicles involved in crashes.

Jools Townsend, head of education at road safety charity Brake, said: ‘Road safety campaigners have suspected for many years that a large proportion of road crashes involve people driving for work.

‘These figures demonstrate how important it is that, firstly, the Government takes corporate responsibility for at-work driving seriously and, secondly, all employers take the life-saving steps of educating employees on safe driving and effectively managing their road risk.’

Now, Brake is calling for all fatal and serious injury crashes involving someone driving for work to be investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and for companies to be required by the HSE to report all at-work road crashes.

It has also released a free DVD – Busy Enough to Kill? – supported by the Department for Transport, to raise awareness among company drivers. Companies can get a copy by attending the free training offered through the FedEx & Brake Road Safety Academy or by signing up to Brake’s Fleet Safety Forum scheme.

Dr Stephen Ladyman MP, Minister of State for Transport, said: ‘The Department for Transport is very much committed to preventing work-related road crashes and as part of this commitment we are pleased to provide funding to Brake to produce its DVD.

‘The DVD is a hard-hitting and effective resource that fleet managers will find invaluable in raising vital road safety awareness among their drivers.’

  • For details of the FedEx & Brake Forum, go to www.brake.org.uk.