THE company for driver risk management

TOTAL PHONE BAN?

The DfT is seriously considering an outright ban on the use of mobile phones whilst driving, irrespective of whether currently legal hands-free kits are used or not. There is no timescale given for this at present.

As we have pointed out many times in the past, it is not the physical act of holding the phone that is the main danger; it is the complexity of the call itself and the subsequent mental demands that compromise the drivers’ ability to concentrate on driving safely.

Those organisations which rely on the use of in-vehicle communications for the efficient operation of their businesses may have to re-consider their policies and procedures, and perhaps accept that drivers will have to stop in a safe place, switch off the engine and only then make or receive a call.

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FIT TO DRIVE

Whilst addressing the audience at the International Conference on Driver Behaviour and Training in Dublin recently, Adrian Taylor, Professor of Exercise and Health Psychology at Exeter University, claimed that drivers who exercise and eat healthily are far less likely to be involved in a road collision.

“There’s a high level of poor lifestyles among professional drivers and ill health is linked to driver accidents. In 1997 a study of coach drivers found that those who did more exercise had fewer accidents. Exercise enhances quality of sleep, lowers levels of fatigue and increases alertness.”

We’re not suggesting that companies should necessarily be enforcing fitness regimes for their drivers but it does illustrate the point that, to be truly discharging their duty of care responsibilities, employers should certainly be establishing if those who drive for work purposes have any ongoing medical problems or other health issues which might compromise their ability to drive safely.

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HOMEWORK FOR FOREIGN DRIVERS

According to the Association of British Insurers, the number of crashes caused by foreign-registered vehicles has risen by a staggering 47% in the past five years and the respected industry body believes that the 45 key differences between British and other European countries’ road laws and testing regimes are largely responsible.

Foreign drivers may well be legally entitled to use our roads but too many of them are just not prepared well enough when it comes to understanding signs, road markings, restrictions and speed limits.

Dealing with this issue should not be down to the driver and the driver alone. British businesses have a moral responsibility for the conduct of those drivers that form part of the supply chain and, as part of their corporate social responsibility, should be requiring that their suppliers equip their drivers to perform their tasks as safely as possible on British soil.

Drive & Survive believes it has an answer to at least part of the problem – a UK Driver Familiarisation distance learning course that can be accessed online or via a CD tutorial.

It is not just a re-hash of the Highway Code. Although all the basics are there, the course also touches on some of cultural differences between the countries, such as the attitude towards giving way to pedestrians on crossings, the general unacceptability of illegal parking and reaction to police intervention.

Mindful that the target audience will, in the main, be experienced drivers, the information is portrayed in an easy-to-digest yet non patronising fashion, with extensive use of visual imagery.

For more information please contact Drive & Survive Sales Support on 0870 1218339 or email to enquiries@drivesurvive.co.uk.

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SPRINTERS REIGNED BACK

From January 1st next year EU law dictates that all CVs between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes registered on or after January 2005 will be limited to 56mph, bringing this class of vehicle into line with existing LGV legislation. According to the SMMT this affects 226,022 vehicles currently not required to have speed limiters fitted, of which 85,245 are classed as vans.

Although there have been worries about possible bunching on motorways, the DfT claims this is unlikely as, even after the new law comes into effect, only about 15% of all vehicles on the road will be fitted with speed limiters.

It is important that business drivers are aware of this new rule and that some van drivers may well be caught out initially, particularly during overtaking manoeuvres. Be aware of any van the size of a long wheelbase Transit or Sprinter, or larger, and keep plenty of space between them and you until any manoeuvre is completed.

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FATIGUE DANGER

There is a well established correlation between the risks of driving whilst on the phone and being over the drink drive limit but there is now fresh evidence that driving whilst tired can be as, or even more, dangerous than over imbibing.

In a practical experiment using a simulator over a variety of road conditions carried out by the Transport Research Laboratory for What Car? Magazine, a sleep deprived driver was compared to one who had consumed 12 units of alcohol over the course of an evening.

When it came to holding a steady distance from the car in front and maintaining position within a motorway traffic lane, the sleepy driver put in a significantly poorer performance than the drunk driver.

Although there is heightened awareness over the pre-Christmas period about the need to avoid drinking and driving, there is less about the danger of the effects of tiredness and of course there is no deterrent in the form of an official test to verify its effects on driving ability.

There is no better time to remind business drivers that a good night’s sleep is a vital ingredient in the recipe for safe driving.

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CHRISTOPHER BULLOCK MBE

Many of you will have heard by now that IAM Chief Executive Christopher Bullock died suddenly on November 19th. Apart from being a highly respected road safety campaigner and architect of the IAM’s growth through the nineties and into the new millennium, Christopher was also Drive & Survive’s Managing Director.

Along with a great many other people in the road safety community, our thoughts are with the Bullock family at this difficult time.

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THERE SNOW TIME LIKE THE PRESENT

By the time this newsletter appears we may even have had the first real snow of the winter but it’s not too late to book any key workers, who are likely to be exposed to the white stuff during their travels, on Drive & Survive’s highly acclaimed ‘Get a grip on winter driving’ course.

For just £145.00 per head for a group of three (only £110 each if you can get a group of 12 together), participants get an engaging, thought-provoking, interactive seminar, which imparts masses of ‘I-never-knew-that’ information about winter conditions, followed by two separate hands-on, practical training sessions which will equip drivers with the anticipation and control skills to enable them to cope with the most inclement conditions imaginable.

Getting stuck, being delayed or, worse still, having a crash costs time, money and maybe even business reputation. Avoid all this with Drive & Survive’s ‘Get a grip on winter driving’ course. For more information please contact the Customer Services team on 0870 1218339 or via enquiries@drivesurvive.co.uk.

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PLEASE VOTE FOR US

There’s still a little time to vote for Drive & Survive in the 2008 ‘Business Car Awards’, where we excelled last year thanks to all of you happy customers expressing your views. You did us proud last year, enabling us to win both those categories. Could we do it again?

All you have to do is go to www.businesscar.co.uk/vote to take part. Drive & Survive is an option to vote for in TWO categories, Service Supplier of the Year and Risk Management.

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CHRISTMAS OPENING HOURS

Drive & Survive will be operating the following opening hours over the Christmas holiday period:

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USEFUL WEBSITE

If you are operating a successful driver risk management programme with Drive & Survive and want to benefit from positive publicity in a variety of media, why not put your company forward to become a ‘Business Champion’ for the ‘Driving For Better Business’ programme? This is a DfT supported outreach programme attempting to spread the word about fleet management best practice and has been referred to publicly in recent weeks by Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick.

One of the first Business Champions was our client Chelmsford Electrical, who were keen to tell U.K. business about the amazing insurance cost savings they have made since introducing a Drive & Survive risk management programme.

For more information have a look at www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com

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SAFETY TECHNOLOGY

As you probably know, reflective road studs, the so-called ‘cats eyes’, were a British invention. Now another British company has gone the extra mile and designed an even better one, for the same cost. The flush-fitting SolaLite stud is, as the name suggests, solar powered and as a result can be seen from a distance of some 900 metres.

Research organisation TRL reports that night time collisions reduce by 70 per cent where they are fitted, so expect a strong take up by local authorities over the coming years……along with lots of extra roadworks!

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ANOTHER IRRESISTABLE OFFER

On a car allowance or cash for car scheme? How about this great deal from our friends at AFL.

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STAFF SPOTLIGHT

In this edition the Spotlight falls on Emily Nafzger

How long with Drive & Survive? 4 and a half years.
Job function: Business Development Manager.
Any amusing instances whilst at work? Every day is amusing in one way or another!!
Home town: Daventry.
Where were you born? Romford.
Brothers/sisters: A younger one of each.
Father’s occupation? Area Manager.
Mother’s occupation? Bank clerk.
Partner’s name? Roy Wright (my Mr Wright!)
Do you have children, if so how many and names? NO.
Hobbies/interests: Harley Davidsons, Harley Davidsons, Harley Davidsons!!
Do you speak any foreign languages? Essex.
Do you play any musical instruments? Nope.
Favourite film? True Romance or Clock Work Orange
Favourite music/band? Metallica.
Favourite food? Chocolate.
Favourite shop? Silverstone Harley Davidson Dealership.
Favourite sport? Rugby.
Do you watch or take part in the above? Watch it – The Saints Rule.
Location of your last holiday? Ibiza.
Your dream holiday location? Egypt.
Your favourite city visited so far? Venice.
Favourite TV programme? CSI – Crime Scene Investigation.
Favourite book? Too many to choose from, but Wuthering Heights is probably my favourite.
What newspaper do you read? None.
What car do you normally drive? Peugeot 307.
Do you think the motorway speed limit should be raised? Yes.
Do you think raising the driving age limit from 17 to 18 will help? Yes maybe.
Do you agree with pay-per-mile road pricing if road tax was abolished? No.
What aspect of bad driving most annoys you? Tailgating, speeding in built up areas and bad use of signals.

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