New analysis shows driving for work death increase

Brake is calling on fleets to help keep drivers and other road users safe through robust policies and procedures to manage road risk, with a particular focus on speed.

Driving for work is one of the most dangerous things that employers ask their staff to do, with around a third of road deaths (and a fifth of serious injuries) involve someone driving for work. 

New analysis of Government road casualty data, conducted by Brake for Road Safety Week 2023 (November 19-25), reveals that road deaths in collisions involving light goods vehicles (LGVs), heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), and buses and coaches all increased between 2021 and 2022.

In 2022, 214 people were killed in crashes involving LGVs, up 10% on 2021 figures, while 220 people were killed in crashes involving HGVs, a 6% increase since 2021.

The data also reveals that 45 people were killed in crashes involving buses or coaches, up 32% since 2021.

People who walk and cycle continue to be particularly vulnerable to collisions involving work vehicles.

In 2022, 42 pedestrians died after being hit by an LGV, 41 after being hit by an HGV, and 20 after being hit by a bus or coach.

Also in 2022, 12 cyclists died after being hit by an LGV, 6 after being hit by an HGV, and 5 after being hit by a bus or coach.

Fleet Friday marked on Fleet News at 10

More than 330 fleet organisations have signed up to take part in Road Safety Week 2023 by organising activities with their staff, sharing important road safety messages and posing the question: If five people die on UK roads every day, why do we still think it is ok to speed?

From data captured at the point of registration, they have said they will reach almost a million people through their Road Safety Week campaigns and activities.

Fleet Friday, taking place on November 24, will champion outstanding work across the fleet industry to manage road risk for drivers and other road users, and prevent crashes involving work vehicles.

Fleet News editor Stephen Briers is the ambassador for Fleet Friday and is raising money for Brake by swimming five miles, as part of the #Brake5 challenge - the '5' represents the five people who die every day on UK roads. You can contribute to the fund here.

Brake’s interim CEO Ross Moorlock will be speaking at Fleet News at 10 on Fleet Friday (November 24), where he will invite the wider fleet industry to join a conversation about the dangers of speeding and demonstrate their commitment to prioritising safety.

Here are some more examples of fleet activities taking place during Road Safety Week:

• Trackm8 will run its annual Road Safety Hero Award, inviting customers to nominate an outstanding driver. The winner will be announced on Fleet Friday.
• Cemex will send every one of its 2000+ employees a Road Safety Week wheelie bin sticker and share key safety messages throughout the week.
• Alltask will deliver a talk to its drivers about the risks associated with speed. They will also send information to drivers about speed scores taken from telematics in their vehicles.
• Mida Civil Engineering will send road safety information directly to all its drivers via its bespoke app. All drivers will be required to read the information before carrying out vehicle checks.

Moorlock said: “This Road Safety Week, if you employ people who drive for work, I urge you to join the conversation and talk about speed.

“Please talk to as many people as you can, to find out why, when five people die on our roads every day, so many of us still choose to drive too fast.”

Road Safety Week 2023 is organised by Brake, sponsored by Arval UK, Autoglass and DHL Supply Chain, and supports the Department for Transport’s Think! campaign.

Gavin Murdoch, managing director, transport, at DHL Supply Chain UK and Ireland, said: “DHL aims to amplify the impact of their efforts and further promote the message of road safety to all.” 

For more on Road Safety Week and to access free resources, ideas and activities to help them talk about speed with drivers, customers and suppliers, click here.