A partnership between Specsavers Corporate Eyecare and Fleet21 has been announced in a bid to improve the safety of drivers at work.

The influential alliance - established by Fleet21 in association with Volvo Car UK - campaigns to improve work-related road safety.

The first initiative to be undertaken under the new partnership was for Suzanne Randall, corporate account manager for Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, to speak at the Safety and Health Expo in London. Randall shared her expertise on driver eyesight and called fleet managers to action.

She said: “We have some exciting plans with Fleet21, including eyecare awareness programmes and mobile eye screening for drivers.

“We have long campaigned for regular eyecare to be required by Law for all drivers. Our new partnership with Fleet21 is another great opportunity to reach road users with our message that sight tests save lives.”  

Fleet21 specialises in the driver safety market and has partnered with Specsavers Corporate Eyecare to deliver eye tests as part of their portfolio of unique driving courses.

Fleet21 customers will now have the opportunity to offer their drivers a discounted eye test and glasses, through Specsavers Corporate Eyecare.

In fact, Fleet21 itself will be using Specsavers Corporate Eyecare’s ‘Optical Care for Drivers’ eVouchers for all its employees who drive for work. This is to ensure that Fleet21 is taking all steps possible to improve the safety of its own drivers and also so that staff have first-hand experience of the eyecare they are offering to their clients.

Simon Turner, managing director of Fleet21, said: “Our aim is to help guide, coach and support businesses in achieving Best Practice in driver safety and training.

“A survey of 1,000 drivers, commissioned by Brake and supported by the DVLA, insurer RSA and Specsavers, has revealed that a quarter of drivers (26%) have not had a vision test in the last two years.

“Eyesight is such an important part of managing driving risk, every fleet regardless of its size should look at its policy on eyecare and driving.

“We help employers with compliance, risk profiling and driver awareness through our unique ArriveAlive programmes, but if the drivers cannot see or do not have regular eye checks it will all be in vein.” 

It is important for employers to look at the bigger picture; research by RSA estimates that 2,900 road casualties a year result from poor driver vision.

While 2,900 individuals face obvious distress, the repercussions may well be felt much more widely.

Employers may have to provide sick pay and cover for employees whilst they recuperate. If a company car is involved then there are other uninsured losses for employers to consider - such as the policy excess sum, time spent dealing with the claim, phone calls, loss of use of vehicle and possible future premium increases.

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