Fleet managers are being urged to 'Make the Pledge' in Road Safety Week, which takes place between November 21 and 27.

Coordinated by road safety charity Brake and sponsored by Specsavers, the initiative is this year asking people to drive less and do everything they can to protect themselves and the people around them.

The pledge is relevant to everyone, whether they are drivers or not, and Specsavers Corporate Eyecare is highlighting the particular area where employers can make a difference.

Brake’s pledge asks everyone to be slow, sober, secure, silent, sharp and sustainable.

The vital area for employers is in ensuring their employees are able to stay sharp.

This part of the pledge covers making sure that all drivers have their eyesight tested at least every two years, which is where employers can definitely make a difference.

Driving for work purposes comes under health and safety regulations in the same way as all ‘at work’ activities.

This is true whether an employee’s main role is driving or if they only make occasional work trips.

The employer should, therefore, already be making certain that all employees’ vision is up to the task and the only way of truly knowing this is to implement a driver eyecare policy.

Jim Lythgow, director of strategic alliances at Specsavers Corporate Eyecare, said: "We support Brake’s initiatives and are deeply involved in Road Safety Week.

"We have worked hard to make it as easy as possible for employers to implement an eyecare policy for drivers.

"We hope that this year’s Road Safety Week may spur employers into action to make available eyecare that, strictly speaking, they should already be providing."

 

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