Nine more organisations have joined the national Driving for Better Business campaign as ‘business champions’ after winning plaudits for their safety first approach to managing the risk posed by employees who drive on business.

It brings to 34 the number of public, private and charitable sector companies and organisations that have become ‘business champions’ under the Government-backed ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign, which is delivered by RoadSafe.

The campaign aims to reduce the estimated 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at-work drivers. More employees are killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity.

Representatives of the nine organisations, which included one of Britain’s largest fleets, Royal Mail Group, which operates more than 36,000 company cars, vans and HGVs; the first London local authority, Hackney ; the first charity, the Seashell Trust; and a major international organisation, Johnson & Johnson; received their Driving for Better Business certificates at a ‘business champions’ seminar in York.

The event was held at the city’s Guildhall and the certificates were presented by the Lord Mayor of York, councillor John Galvin, on behalf of Transport Minister Paul Clark.

The seminar also brought together public sector representatives including local authorities, the fire service and the police to provide further information and advice on how by more effectively managing employees the risks associated with work-related driving could be further reduced.

Last year, according to official Department for Transport figures, a total of 2,538 people were killed on Britain’s roads and 228,367 people were injured. It is estimated that up to a third of those casualties could be employees on work-related journeys.
Campaign director Caroline Scurr said: “The campaign is focused on encouraging improved management of employees who drive on business, the vehicles they drive and the journeys they make.

“Working in partnership with a vehicle or risk management company is one solution, but it is not the only way. It is clear from our ‘business champions’ that employers want help and advice to manage work-related driving and that is different from the aggressive selling of driver training and other products by the commercial sector.

“Local authorities, police forces and the fire service have an abundance of expertise available and, across the country, many of their representatives are working closely with some organisations to help them better improve the management of at-work drivers.”

She added: “Reducing the number of crashes involving at work drivers is proven to save thousands and, in the case of large fleets, millions of pounds. In addition, cutting the carnage improves business efficiency and the image of an organisation.

“It should be the resolve of all mangers to bring avoidable costs under control. Effective management of those who drive for work is an important element of general management - if it isn’t addressed properly, the negative impact on profit can be very significant.

“All of our ‘business champions’ have cut crashes and related costs significantly, and, consequently, employee well-being and safety have been improved through implementation of a range of interventions. The result is a measurable contribution to business efficiency and savings that go straight to the bottom line.

The newly enrolled ‘business champions’ and the employees heading up their occupational road risk management initiatives who received certificates are:

  1. Engineering and design consultancy Atkins, Alan McKechnie, chief engineer transport management
  2. Balfour Beatty Plant & Fleet Services, James Burrows, professional services business manager
  3. North of England-based CE Electric UK, Chris Charlton, road risk manager
  4. City of York Council, Geoff Derham, head of waste, representing director neighbourhood services
  5. Gateshead Council, Graham Telfer, fleet manager
  6. Multi-national manufacturer of pharmaceutical, medical devices and diagnostics, and consumer products Johnson & Johnson, Gabriel Kardos, SAFE Fleet manager Europe, Middle East and Africa
  7. London Borough of Hackney, Norman Harding, corporate fleet manager
  8. Royal Mail, Melvyn Hodgetts, technical safety manager logistics
  9. Education and residential care charity for people with complex communication difficulties Seashell Trust, Alan Hills, activities director.


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