Advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) are systems designed to help the driver in an increasingly technology-assisted mobile world. But do you and your drivers know what they all are and what they do to improve collision avoidance and improve driver safety?

International and domestic freight transport (including by air, ship, road and rail, including roll-on/roll-off transports) is classified by UK government as an essential activity in the context of its travel advice. Check the latest travel advice and information.

This introductory guide provides simple advice, based on the HSE’s approach of ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’, and signposts you to more detailed guidance. It is designed for organisations that may not have considered this issue previously and are unsure how to start.

Understand the research evidence for recruiting and selecting safe drivers. Discover the challenges associated with traditional driver selection methods. Learn how to use psychometric assessments to improve driver selection and recruitment.

Bridge strikes can cause injury, delays and damage. Share this safety card with your drivers.

You need to tell DVLA about some medical conditions as they can affect your driving. You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about a medical condition that affects your driving. You may be prosecuted if you’re involved in an accident as a result.

You can use this service to check someone’s driving licence information, for example, vehicles they can drive or any penalty points or disqualifications.

Find out if you’re eligible and how much you can claim to cover wages for employees on temporary leave ('furlough') due to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Advice for fleets on adapting and dealing with coronavirus.

The blind spot safety card contains information aimed at commercial vehicle drivers and driver trainers. It can also be used by operators and transport managers to distribute to fleets of all sizes.

This blind spot information leaflets is aimed at car drivers, encouraging better awareness and safe driving around commercial vehicles.

An introduction to Highways England’s Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Programme including initiatives aimed at tackling the main causes of incidents involving commercial vehicles.

The Highways England Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team is collaborating on a range of initiatives to improve safety for drivers and operators of commercial vehicles as well as other road users.

A short Toolbox Talk that you are free to watch, download and share with your staff and drivers to minimise the risk of spreading any virus.

Know the key signs of driver stress to look out for. Understand the effects of driver stress on crash involvement. Gain practical advice on supporting drivers at this challenging time.

This leaflet is for those who need to put in place or oversee their organisation’s health and safety arrangements. It’s a brief guide to help you comply with the law, and summarises the more detailed guidance in Managing for health and safety (HSG65)

This guidance has been produced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to help people involved in workplace transport reduce the chances of accidents happening. It is mainly aimed at managers but operators and their safety representatives will also find it useful.

This guide provides advice for employers on what they need to do to comply with the law and reduce risk. It will also be useful for managers, supervisors, employees and their safety representatives, as well as contractors, vehicle operators and other organisations concerned with workplace transport...

Employers have a duty to consult with their employees, or their representatives, on health and safety matters. This leaflet is aimed at employers and discusses what they need to do to ensure they are complying with the law.

This leaflet focuses on tailgating, encouraging your drivers to keep a safe distance from the vehicle in front, giving themselves time to react and stop if they need to.

What is the situation with car warranties during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? We've put together a list of what the car manufacturers are telling us about car warranties during the crisis.

Download a free STAY SAFE Covid-19 guidance poster for your drivers. There are three posters available HGV, PSV and Van drivers.

Download a free STAY SAFE Covid-19 guidance poster for your drivers. There are three posters available HGV, PSV and Van drivers.

Download a free STAY SAFE Covid-19 guidance poster for your drivers. There are three posters available HGV, PSV and Van drivers.

Michelin has issued special guidance for firms parking fleets of cars and vans for extended periods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelin has issued special guidance for haulage companies and own-account operators parking fleets for extended periods during the COVID-19 pandemic. This follows a survey by the Road Haulage Association which revealed 46 per cent of the UK’s trucks – around 240,000 vehicles – are now parked...

Michelin has issued special guidance for bus and coach operators parking public service vehicles (PSVs) for extended periods during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The minimum requirements for a safety management system to reduce the incidence and risk of serious injury related to road traffic accidents.

The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA) commissioned the Energy Saving Trust (EST) to undertake research into the scale of grey fleet use in the UK.

The aim of this guide is to provide support and guidance to BVRLA members on the running of their operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This guidance is intended to clarify the requirements that apply on vehicle and parts collections, delivery and distribution, storage and technical services.

CALM Driver is our way of helping you get support information to your commercial vehicle drivers, so they know there’s someone here to talk to, every day, if they’re struggling.

England rugby star Joe Marler explains it’s not a weakness to seek help when you’re struggling.

CALM Driver is our way of helping you get support information to your commercial vehicle drivers, so they know there’s someone here to talk to, every day, if they’re struggling.

A resource for older motorists, designed to help them stay safer on the roads for longer or manage the transition into retiring from driving.

Identify gaps in your current management practices and areas that could be improved.

Driving for Better Business, and strategic partner FleetCheck, have collaborated on a series of short videos to help fleet operators and business owners navigate these new challenges.

Questions and answers from our COVID-19 webinar with Fleet News

Accredited online course to help you set up, run and monitor an effective occupational road safety management system, regardless of geography.

Road safety advice for those driving or riding for the gig economy.

A guide that provides information to fleet managers about choosing and buying safer vehicles based on factors such as vehicle use.

This guide provides advice to employers about the dangers of drink and drug driving and offers information on how to encourage safe practice.

A concise look at how employers can assess and train their employees who drive for work, in order to reduce occupational road risk.

A guide which gives information about driver fitness issues, and guidance for employers on how to ensure their employees are fit to drive.

A guide that advises employers on creating and implementing effective and methodical incident reporting and investigation procedures.

A short guide explaining how to prevent inappropriate mobile phone use on the road by employees.

This guide advises employers on how to implement policies that explain to employees if, when and how they can use their own vehicles for work.

This guide gives concise information to employers and line managers on how to safely plan their organisation's journeys, including an example journey planner.

A guide that gives advice to employers and line managers on how to encourage safer driving speeds at work.

This concise guide informs employers about the use of telematics for work, including how employees can use telematics effectively.

This guide teaches employers how to evaluate their Managing Occupational Road Risk (MORR) activities in order to check their effectiveness.

A handbook providing a wealth of information to employees about safe driving at work, including advice on how to safely prepare for a journey.

A handbook for volunteer drivers that covers key information such as safety provisions, and the law concerning voluntary driving.

This document takes a more in-depth look at work-related telematic use in order to improve road safety at work.

This document explains RoSPA Scotland's research - investigating the use of telematics in the workplace to improve employee driving.

Coronavirus/COVID-19-related tools and documents

News on how companies are adapting to the coronavirus crisis.

Logistics UK is focused on supporting the industry at this critical time. As well as our ongoing discussions with government about the response, we have also built this COVID-19 resource hub.

COVID-19 News and updates

What employers can do to prepare their professional drivers for a safe return to work after lockdown.

A strategic review of risks associated with cars and light vans plus implications for policy and practice.

New Van Safety Rating launched by Thatcham Research and Euro NCAP. Mathew Avery explains why 5 vans failed to achieve even the lowest award.

Leaflet explaining why driving too close to the vehicle in front is dangerous, intimidating and causes accidents, especially when driving at speed.

We examine business leader’s concerns over COVID-19 and how they are planning to improve business resilience.

The TyreSafe website is full of information on the impact of poor tyre safety for both driver safety and operational costs, as well as loads of resources to share with your drivers.

Poster featuring useful info on driving in winter to share with your drivers: What to pack and things to be aware of?

Figures for the first half of 2020 show a marked decline in overall new car sales but also a significant rise in the sales of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

COVID-19 has wrought many changes to how we run our businesses, not least of which is the massive potential increase in grey fleet caused by working from home.

As lockdown is lifted, make sure your fleet housekeeping is in order to improve your chances of business survival.

A nationwide quarterly survey of businesses created to help us understand the economic landscape and discover what van owners and drivers need to keep their business moving.

Following the deaths of two of its workers after driving whilst fatigued, a firm has been found guilty of failing to discharge its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Denise Beedell of the FTA looks at electric vans and the need for further action from government and manufacturers.

Article covering vehicle downtime, opportunity cost, environmental footprint and the benefits of ‘rightsizing’ your fleet.

There are no reasons why electric vehicles should not be as safe as any other, however, they do bring specific risks with which you may be unfamiliar.

Driving for Better Business looks at some of the challenges in deciding whether electric vans are right for your fleet.

Eurovia has been piloting a new approach to young driver training aimed at young graduates and student placement drivers.

Our formula for cultivating a healthy culture where van drivers treat driving as a professional aspect of their job.

40 per cent of all car, van and lorry drivers admit to driving while tired. We look at some of the effects of sleep deprivation.

While there are many things that can be measured and improved, one of the key metrics is Accident Frequency Rate or AFR. If you aren’t measuring it, you aren’t managing it!

Traffic Commissioner Sarah Bell talks to David Williams about why a breakdown in trust between fleet operator and traffic commissioner could severely disrupt your ability to do business.

Improving driver behaviour and preserving vehicle health. Sean Maher from Quartix, explains how to best use the insights that telematics can offer.

Tyres on vans and light commercial vehicles (LCVs) lead a hard life. Stuart Jackson, Chairman of TyreSafe, explains why it’s important to carry out regular checks on vans of all ages to make sure the tyres remain safe and legal.

When there is a diesel spillage on the Strategic Road Network (SRN) it has a financial, social, environmental and economic impact. The repercussions affect those directly involved, other drivers and the UK economy.

Stephen Briers, Editor-in-Chief of Fleet News says there is simply no excuse for companies to allow staff to drive around unchecked in their own vehicles.

Survey uncovers UK employers are risking the safety and well-being of those who drive for work . Study of 1,006 UK employees and 255 C-Suite (Executive Directors) highlights failures by UK bosses to implement driving for work policy.

Drivetech has created a new online course available free to any business operator where ‘other than normal business drivers’ are being called into essential action.

Agency drivers should be as compliant as any other driver. Richard Owen-Hughes of Driver Hire Nationwide tells us how to achieve it.

Employers and fleet operators across the country, whose commercial vehicles are defective, or whose drivers break the law, are now coming under closer scrutiny

Webbing ratchet straps can be used to secure most types of loads, but it’s 5518 important to make sure that you use and store them properly for safe loading.

The motorway network is changing with new technology used to monitor and manage the flow of traffic, and to improve safety. We want all drivers to have a safer, smoother journey. Here’s what they need to know.

Managing Director of Amey Highways and Driving for Better Business Ambassador, James Haluch, explains why leadership is so important to managing occupational road risk.

Heavy rain and flooding can be a reminder for organisations that have employees driving for work purposes to ensure they are prepared and their vehicles are roadworthy before any work journey.

Driving for Better Safety is an eBook on assessing work-related road risk produced by SHP online in collaboration with Driving for Better Business.

Adam Bamford, Expedite Services Manager of Selenity, explains that 1 in 5 grey fleet drivers fail their insurance checks.

Grey fleet drivers represent one of the single most at-risk groups for businesses today. Why? Peter Golding, Managing Director of FleetCheck says it's because many businesses simply do not realise the level of responsibility they have.

Ian Featherstone of Energy Saving Trust thinks grey fleet is being fuelled by a growing tendency for cash allowances to be offered to employees.

All over Europe, businesses allow employees to use their own cars for work journeys. However, research indicates that many drivers are not checking their vehicles before a business trip.

Oz Choudhri, Head of Public Sector at Enterprise, explains how their customers have ditched their grey fleet, pool and lease cars to save money, time and emissions.

Stephen Briers, Editor-in-Chief of Fleet News, says there is nothing inherently wrong with having a grey fleet but good management takes admin time, the right processes and resource.

John Pryor – Chair of ACFO – reflects on the fundamental changes he’s seen over 30 years in the fleet business.

The statistics around Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) – the condition where the walls of the throat relax and narrow during sleep, interrupting breathing and disturbing sleep, potentially triggering severe daytime sleepiness – make alarming reading.

Andy Eastlake, Managing Director, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, is convinced that improving transport safety and air quality must increasingly go hand in hand.

Hannah Gregory on why a water tight policy is nothing without day-to-day adherence.

A decade or so ago – before the new dawn ushered in by telematics – everything looked very different indeed in the Iron Mountain transport world.

Matthew Avery, Director of Insurance Research at Thatcham, believes that some of the most exciting automotive developments are heading our way.

There are many pros – and just a few cons – to life, when you’re responsible for fleet safety in a nationally-recognised firm operating 120 HGVs, 1,578 vans, 283 company cars, and a grey fleet of around 100.

When there is a diesel spillage on the SRN it has a financial, social, environmental and economic impact. The repercussions affect those directly involved, other drivers and the UK economy.

This document is for commercial vehicle drivers and fleet operators and aims to highlight the importance of preventing and minimising diesel spillages on the SRN.

Transport firm has is O Licence revoked and is forced to close after driver caused death of cyclist by careless driving.

Roles and responsibilities in the transport chain for securing loads.

How the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency enforces the rules on securing loads.

This guide provides operators from different sectors of industry with useful information on how DVSA and other regulators expect loads to be secured when in transit.

Good practice to follow when securing loads

Poor load securing can lead to death or serious injury.

As a van driver, you need to stay within the weight limits when you're driving and not overload it.

Who can drive a van, the speed limits and weight limits that apply, and rules on loading, drivers' hours and maintenance.

This video contains instructions of the daily routine checks which should be completed by van drivers or operators before they use their vehicles.

This video contains instructions of the daily routine checks which should be completed by van drivers or operators before they use their vehicles.

Official DVSA guide to what you need to check inside and outside of the vehicle when you do a lorry or other heavy goods vehicle (HGV) daily walkaround check.

This film is correct at date of publication, there have been some changes to the rules but nothing which is of detriment to the value of this film.

Normally an application to renew a lorry or bus licence at age 45 or over must include a medical examination report (D4) which is signed by a doctor. However, NHS doctors cannot carry out these examinations.

Unsafe loads on vehicles injure more than 1,200 people a year and cost UK businesses millions of pounds in damaged goods. Share this safety card with your drivers.

Essential knowledge for bikers on why car and van drivers often don't see them.

Motorcyclists account for 1% of the miles travelled on the UK roads, but because they lack the roll cages, the seat belt tensioners, the crumple zones and air bags, they make up between 18-25% of the deaths and serious injuries.

Information for bikers on clothing and PPE

Information for bikers on clothing and PPE

A sneak preview of DriveTech's developing new range of "Driver's Mate" informational videos

A sneak preview of DriveTech's developing new range of "Driver's Mate" informational videos

Driving behaviours are clear indicators of heightened risk exposure of drivers being involved in adverse traffic incidents. This paper summarises the findings from a number of recent research studies.

This paper demonstrates that financial savings are directly linked to driver behaviour. It uses real-life driving data, often measured by telematics systems, to show that significant savings can be achieved.

This paper demonstrates that cost savings can be achieved through high quality and innovative driver coaching programme based on a holistic approach to fleet risk and driver safety management.

Road traffic signage in Great Britain, including information on the signing system, regulatory signs, speed limit signs and all other signs.

You must wear glasses or contact lenses every time you drive if you need them to meet the ‘standards of vision for driving’. Fitness to Drive.

Driving with medical conditions and assessing fitness to drive.

Drivers often face work-related time constraints and can find themselves speeding or demonstrating risky behaviour, leading to minor violations. These are often seen as being ‘acceptable’ or necessary in their role.

Sean Maher, Head of Sales, explains the benefits that telematics and the Quartix vehicle tracking system can bring to your business, from real-time tracking to driver behaviour analysis.

To drive a particular type of vehicle, you need an ‘entitlement’ for that category on your driving licence.

The codes printed on the back of a driving licence tell you what conditions your drivers must meet to drive.

This paper demonstrates how organisations that take simple steps towards better management of their Grey Fleet vehicles and drivers, will significantly reduce risks for their employees and reduce costs and administration.

Are you actually able to contrate fully on driving while also talking the phone, whether handheld or handsfree. We have the answer.

Take our interactive and find out if you’re alert when behind the wheel. Your attention will be put to the test.

Try out this simple test of awareness. Count the cars…

Dr Gemma Briggs Explains Driving Distraction

What employees and employers need to know. An Open University Driving Change presentation by Dr Gemma Briggs

The Highways England Space Invader ‘Tailgating’ campaign aims to reduce the number of people who are killed and seriously injured on our roads by encouraging drivers to ‘Stay Safe, Stay Back’ from the vehicle in front.

If you see a red X on a motorway, this means that you should not use that lane. This could be due to an incident, roadworks or a breakdown. It’s there for your safety and the that of others on our network.

Highways England’s CLEAR initiative shows how we collaborate with other emergency responders to  to deal with the incident as quickly and safely as possible.

Blue Light Aware is a resource containing short videos and animations, produced on behalf of the emergency services to help drivers better understand the needs of emergency drivers and reduc the risks they face.

We talk readily about our physical health, so why should mental health be any different? We hope the information on this page might help to start a conversation.

Lose your licence, lose your livelihood. 600 prosecutions each week. Police and your employer can test for drugs at any time.

Lose your HGV licence, lose your livelihood. 600 prosecutions each week. Police and your employer can test for drugs at any time.

Lose your PSV licence, lose your livelihood. 600 prosecutions each week. Police and your employer can test for drugs at any time.

This best practice guidance report is one of a series produced by Global Fleet Champions to help anyone who employs people who drive for work to manage occupational road risk, regardless of budget, fleet size or vehicle type.

COVID-19 has changed the road environment around the world and created additional challenges for fleet managers.

For more than 30 years, the Transport Accident Commission of Victoria in Australia has produced some of the world’s hardest-hitting road safety films – their anti-drink drive film is one of the best.

Understand the benefits & limitations of telematics for improving driver safety. Discover how to use telematics data to identify the behavioural motivations causing driver risk. Learn about the latest solutions for changing  high risk driver behaviours

A useful, visual guide to the key behavioural risk factors for fleet drivers based on 30 years of scientific research into fleet driver risk.

Understand how time pressure influences  driver behaviour at work. Discover the relationship between time pressure, driver stress, performance and crashes. Learn how to mitigate the risk from a behavioural and organisational perspective.

Driver information on staying safe around lorries

Driver information on staying safe around lorries

Driver information on staying safe around lorries

Driver information on staying safe around lorries

Understand the risks associated with multi-drop delivery driving. Learn effective methods to assess individual driver risk and interventions to improve safety. Discover the tools that can help improve recruit and select safer drivers.

The impact of COVID-19 on UK businesses will take a while to be fully realised. Our new Fleet Safety Guide distils the key issues and provides advice from our experts on how to deal with them effectively as the lockdown continues to ease.

Many in the transport and driver risk management arena believed the Corporate Manslaughter Act would make it easier to hold organisations to account for the wellbeing and safety of those engaged in driving for work. The reality has been somewhat different.

All it takes to undo a lifetime’s attentive and careful driving, even for a highly trained driver, is one unintended moment of distraction, yet it has never been harder to concentrate on the task in hand.

The tendency for many companies is to present employees with a car policy and choice list and away they go, without assessing how much they know about driving. Most do the bare minimum in terms of education.

Fleet managers may not always have the time to consider the culture of their business, or how it can influence driving behaviour, good and bad. However, promoting a culture of safety can bring many benefits such as reduced incident rates and a more resilient fleet.

If your vehicle has been mothballed during COVID-19 you will need to do a thorough vehicle check before heading back out on the road.

If you’ve been previously furloughed, or haven’t driven much during the lockdown, you may be unsure what to expect, but there are some key things you need to know before you and your vehicle get back on the roads.

TV advert reminding motorists of the importance of conducting vehicle checks before setting off on a long journey.

Use our free Driving for Better Business Benchmarking tool to find out how your fleet compares to others in the industry, and to the current best practice standards. See how your organisation compares in the following areas: - How many incidents your fleet is involved in - How much these...

A podcast for those who manage drivers and their vehicles, and want to reduce road risk in their organisation.

Read our blog to find out how you can get started with road risk management in your organisation by using our Benchmarking & Gap Analysis tools to benchmark your fleet and learn where you can improve

Winter can be a very dangerous time for all fleet drivers due to extreme weather conditions and the added pressure this brings. We've creating these tips for winter driving using our vast data warehouse of incident data from all our fleet customers.

The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and safety permit for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) requires operators of lorries over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight to obtain a safety permit before entering and operating in most of Greater London. Otherwise, you may receive a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN).

Did you know? With more than 4 million vans registered in the UK, it is a common misconception that there is no legislation governing van drivers and van operations. Due to their size and weight, vans can be driven and used for anything – right? Wrong, in fact very wrong. With an increase...

Did you know? Over 2 million drivers have an out-of-date driving licence Driving without a current, valid licence can result in a fine up to £1,000 and 3-6 penalty points Failure to produce driving documents to the police is an offence resulting in a fine up to £5,000 and 8 penalty...

Did you know? Driving without the correct entitlement to drive may result in a driver being issued with 3-6 penalty points and a fine of up to £1,000. Penalty points are not displayed on the driving licence photocard. Drivers who receive 12 penalty points or more can be disqualified...

Did you know? An English or Welsh Court has the power to disqualify anyone from driving in GB regardless of where their licence was issued. A driver’s ability to drive in GB on a foreign driving licence depends on the length of their stay and the country where their licence was issued. ...

Did you know? A driver could be imprisoned, banned from driving, and face a fine if found guilty of drink-driving. A driver could be charged with driving while unfit even if they are not over the limit. The only thing that eliminates alcohol from the body is time and the average person...

Did you know? It is an offence to drive having over the specified limits of certain drugs in the blood. The penalty for causing death by dangerous driving under the influence of drugs is a prison sentence of up to 14 years. Driving while impaired by drugs is thought to be a major...

Did you know? Drivers can be fined up to £1,000 if they do not inform DVLA about a medical condition that affects their driving. It is an offence for drivers to refuse to submit to an eyesight test when requested to by the police. Drivers may be prosecuted if involved in an accident...

Did you know? 1 in 5 accidents are caused by tiredness. Peak times for fatigue-related crashes are within the hours of 02.00-06.00 and 14.00-16.00. Sleeping just 4-5 hours a night for a week impairs performance to the same extent as being legally over the alcohol limit. 83% of van...

Did you know? 56% of van drivers consider themselves overweight. 70% of van drivers say work pressures severely impact their ability to drink enough water and have a healthy diet. Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, with 1 man dying every two...

Did you know? MOT Tests - Half of all vans fail their MOT at the first attempt. Two thirds of vans stopped at the roadside by the DVSA have a serious mechanical defect. You are responsible - It is the driver’s responsibility to ensure the vehicle is safe and roadworthy... Learn more and...

Did you know? Seat belts are simple to put on and save lives. The penalty for not wearing a seat belt when driving is currently a £100 fine, rising to £500 if taken to court. The use of a seat belt by drivers and vehicle occupants was made compulsory in the UK. People not wearing a...

Did you know? Penalties for speeding range from £100 – £2,500 and between 3 and 6 penalty points. Drivers who go to court for speeding, could be fined up to 175% of their weekly salary and even be disqualified from driving. Speeding fines vary for certain types of roads and for...

Did you know? There are laws limiting the amount of driving a van driver can do each day. These laws also require minimum rest periods. Drivers breaking these rules can receive large fines and even custodial sentences. There are 2 different sets of rules that can apply. It is important...

Did you know? Mobile devices are a major distraction but they are not the only one. Distractions can include eating, drinking, setting satnav, radios etc – anything that takes your eyes off the road or distracts your concentration on driving. Distraction is a major cause of collisions...

Did you know? 90% of road collisions are caused by, or involve, human error. Drivers face fines up to £5,000 and up to 9 penalty points for careless and inconsiderate driving if their vehicle causes an obstruction when it has run out of fuel. There are around 3 to 6 major bridge strikes...

Did you know? Drivers face fines up to £2,500, a ban from driving and 3 penalty points for driving a vehicle in a dangerous condition. Wearing a seat belt is law and can result in fines of up to £500 and 3 penalty points if not wearing a seat belt when supposed to. Airbags reduce...

Did you know? Theft of vans has been increasing over the last 5 years. Over 8,000 vans are stolen each year. Thefts from vans is also a massive problem with over 28,000 thefts per year. Most thefts from a van occur where the driver parks at home. Thefts of contents are often...

Did you know? The use of vehicles as a weapon to injure and kill people has become a real threat. This is referred to as a ‘vehicle as a weapon (VAW) attack’. Vans pose an increased risk if used in VAW attacks because of their size, profile and weight. Crowded public spaces are...

Did you know? For road traffic collisions, details should be exchanged with all parties involved. If details are not exchanged, this should be done as soon as reasonably practicable, within 24 hours or reported to the Police. Drivers face a fine up to £5,000 and up to 10 penalty points...

Did you know? Drivers face a non-endorsable fixed penalty of £50–£100 for causing an unnecessary obstruction by parking opposite or within 10 metres (32 feet) of a junction. The average motorist in the UK spends nearly 4 days every year looking for parking spaces. Parking lights must...

Did you know? Towing with a van could: Mean you need different driving licence categories. Require use of EU drivers’ hours rules and tachographs (although there may be exemptions you can use). Overload the towing vehicle beyond its legal and / or physical capabilities. Vans with a...

Did you know? Each year, DVSA issue over 2,000 prohibitions to drivers of vehicles which present a road safety risk because of poor load security. Where a vehicle’s load is deemed to be in a dangerous condition, the driver can receive 3 penalty points and a licence endorsement. Drivers...

Did you know? A driver can be fined up to £300 or get a court summons if their van exceeds its maximum permitted axle weight. Exceeding the manufacturer’s load limit can put serious strain on the vehicle and may invalidate insurance cover. Overloaded vans are a common issue in the UK...

Did you know? Tailgating is one of the causes of road rage and police have powers to issue on the spot fixed penalties for inconsiderate lane use (including hogging the middle lane). Penalties range from a fine of £100 and 3 penalty points to a driving ban or prison sentence, depending on...

Did you know? In 2019, there were 60 fatalities involving vans and vulnerable road users. 62% of cyclists killed or seriously injured were involved in collisions at, or near, a road junction. Post collision, drivers could face financial claims from a vulnerable road user covering their...

Did you know? The speed limit on a motorway is 70 mph (where national speed limit applies). Large vehicles and vehicles towing trailers have a speed limit of 60mph unless other limits are shown. If caught speeding on a motorway, a driver could be fined up to £2,500. The Red X is there...

Did you know? More than four million journeys are made on the strategic road network each day. On average, Highways England record around 196,000 breakdowns per year (536 each day). The most common breakdowns are related to tyres, overheating, electrical problems and running out of...

Did you know? There are 7 main government bodies responsible for road safety. It is an offence not to stop when asked to do so by the Police and drivers face an unlimited fine, community order or up to 6 months’ imprisonment and 3 – 9 penalty points or disqualification from driving. ...

Did you know? Weight, driving style and maintenance all affect a van’s fuel economy. An unnecessary 45kg in the vehicle reduces mpg by 1%. Engine idling can have a significant impact on vehicle’s fuel economy. Excessive speed is the biggest fuel-guzzling factor. The heavier a...

Did you know? Our most recent data shows that, on average, 13%* of all fatalities and serious injuries on the Strategic Road Network include weather conditions as a contributing factor to the incident. Of these, 78%* occurred in the rain (four times more than any other adverse weather...

Did you know? One of the biggest hazards and challenges of Spring driving is low sun. You must ensure you can see where you are going. Use the vehicle’s sun visor and wear sunglasses to minimise glare. You must ensure your windscreen is kept clean and your washer and wipers are working...

Did you know? Hot weather can cause fatigue and irritability to drivers. Drivers can become easily dehydrated and it can affect their driving abilities. Drivers experience increased congestion from high levels of traffic on holiday routes and in road works for road construction and...

Did you know? Leaving the engine running while stationary, or ‘engine idling’ to defrost windows is an offence under Rule 123 of The Highway Code and authorities have the power to issue £20 fixed penalties for any contravention. Rule 229 of the Highway Code says: “Before you set off...

When in comes to safe loading of vehicles and load security it might be easy to dismiss it as something that is simply a box that needs to be ticked as part of your other driving for work compliance duties. The real story is very different. There are a number of incidents that have happened over...

Advanced Emergency Braking Systems (AEBS) have been fitted as standard to most new HGVs sold in the UK since 2015. Drivers and operators of HGVs need to understand how it works, what it does and why it’s vital, according to Driving for Better Business, which has launched online guidance on the...

TV hosts Suzi Perry and Ortis Deley have teamed up with National Highways to urge drivers to get a better understanding of smart motorways. The TV presenters are working with National Highways to produce helpful and practical videos and clips featuring advice and information about motorway driving...

Driving for Better Business is teaming up with Women in Transport, for the Women in Transport Podcast. Women in Transport is a non-for-profit promotional, professional-development and support group. In this first episode of the podcast we mark International Women's Day with a celebration of Women...

We will be presenting three days of expert opinion, good practice and thought leadership in the Driver Safety Zone at the Health & Safety Event 2022. It’s a vital update for safety professionals. The videos will be available after the event and you can sign up to receive those here.

Metworks is the in-house residential maintenance company for housing association Metropolitan Thames Valley Homes. Transport manager, Joe Masters, oversees a fleet of 200 Citroën Relay and Vauxhall Movano vans, all of which are in the care of individual remote operatives. Read how Metworks...

Tarmac is the UK’s leading sustainable building materials and construction solutions business. Transport and Logistics is an essential part of the Tarmac business, from sourcing materials from quarries to production sites to delivering materials to customer construction sites. Tarmac operates...

Three plain white HGV tractor units have been loaned out to police forces by National Highways to help improve safety for drivers on the strategic road network in England.

Meet the employers that are prepared to step forward to champion good practice in work related road safety, and who can demonstrate those business benefits by sharing their own stories. Take a look at the challenges they faced, how they met those challenges, and the benefits they’ve seen as a...

Commercially operated vehicles – Framework for mitigating security risks from malicious use - specification

This guide has been produced for the benefit of the freight transport industry and construction plant hire sector and it is Network Rail’s intention to permit free copy and distribution.

This guide has been produced for the benefit of the passenger transport industry and it is Network Rail’s intention to permit free copy and distribution.

These guidelines have been produced for the benefit of the passenger transport industry and it is Network Rail’s intention to permit free copy and distribution.

This guide has been produced for the benefit of the freight transport industry and construction plant hire sector and it is Network Rail’s intention to permit free copy and distribution.

Unbranded presentation resources for use during Driver CPC courses for bus and coach drivers.

For drivers of goods vehicles or combinations of vehicle and trailer of more than 3.5 tonnes and passenger vehicles with more than 9 seats (including the driver’s).

This guide provides operators from different sectors of industry with useful information on how DVSA and other regulators expect loads to be secured when in transit.

John Raymond Transport is a general haulage, warehousing and logistics provider running 120 HGVs, all plated to 44 tonnes and pulling curtainsided trailers.Based in Bridgend, South Wales, it has four depots of its own, and is part of the Nolan Group. JRT has been pursuing a risk management strategy...

The company adopted the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme in 2009 and became the first FORS Gold accredited haulier in Wales. It has continued to invest in FORS training and audits because it is popular with customers. However, COO Geraint Davies, who has career experience of training and...

Being trained by the COO also makes an important cultural point. “Cultural values such as safety have to be top down and bottom up,” he says. “By delivering training I reinforce that this is something the board members personally believe in and support.” Geraint says that clear...

Part of JRT’s commitment to driver welfare is shown by the six-monthly health checks for all drivers. They fill out detailed questionnaires and any highlighted issues are referred to a private healthcare provider for further testing at the company’s expense if required. The drivers also receive...

Unusually, JRT has its own in-house telematics and compliance system which integrates directly into its in-house developed transport management suite. The telematics has specific parameters set for braking, accelerating and cornering and exception events are followed up with driver coaching...

The company has speed limited its trucks to 53mph which initially irritated some drivers. However, it helps to save fuel, and it also has the important benefit of preventing close following. Consequently, the company has less windscreen damage. Overall, it has seen a 23.53 % reduction in on-road...

The first thing Joe did was to analyse the fleet’s weaknesses. Although he has since taken steps to address these weaknesses, it is an ongoing process and still informs the company’s training schedule. “We have created a programme with our training provider which targets specific areas,” he...

It’s essential that Joe repeats key themes each year for their drivers, as housing associations have a high turnover of staff, particularly near London which has several other associations all keen for skilled workers. The Metworks drivers are primarily maintenance operatives and so driving is...

Metworks uses Teletrac Navman. “We’ve seen our greatest benefit through the use of telematics,” he says. “Speeding has reduced by 75%. With less speeding, we’ve seen lower vehicle maintenance costs, and lower fuel costs, both down by around 10%.” Joe is very aware that risk-taking in...

Metworks has no depots, only offices and so its operatives carry everything they need in the back of the van. It was initially a challenge to impress upon drivers that the respon-sibility for staying within proscribed weight limits was their personal responsibility. However, on-board scales, which...

Drivers are risk-assessed continuously. Joe studies a list of criteria including: Telematics, Loading, Speeding, Productivity, Out of hours use of the van: If drivers are not on call-out duty, this is flagged, Licence validation: all changes to licences must be reported, Induction and training...

The highest risk drivers are licence-checked, and trained, more frequently. “We use Licence Bureau training modules, which take drivers through basic training and a series of questions. Depending on how they perform, they will be directed to further modules to address their gaps in knowledge,”...

Joe has banned mobile phone use even by Bluetooth, athough each vehicle is equipped with Bluetooth technology. “I don’t remove the Bluetooth because I don’t want to inadvertently drive someone to make a call by holding the phone,” he says. “However, we make it very clear: calls can...

Metworks are minimising driving time by ensuring that jobs are given to the most local driver and any corporate meetings which can be done by Teams are. “Quite simply the less they drive, the less at risk they are,” says Joe.

Initially on-road incidents spiked as the drivers learned to report every vehicle-related incident, down to the merest scratch. “It seems counter-intuitive but it has given us a sound baseline for charting improvement,” says Joe. The company has now seen both the number and value of claims...

National Highways traffic officers and inspection fleets operate 24/7 365 days of the year. Furthermore the traffic officer fleet covers 1.5m miles a year. Therefore, fleet reliability is essential. Moving to plug in hybrids has actually improved the resilience of the fleet, says Martin, as using...

NH monitors driver behaviour through in-vehicle telemetry, and Martin is currently determining new parameters for recording exception events. However, since the introduction of the first hybrid vehicles in 2019, he has observed a pattern of improvement which he believes is inspired by the new...

Summary of business benefits achieved by National Highways with the support of the Driving for Better Business programme. Including lower emissions and improvements in the resilience of the fleet.

National Highways is responsible for building, operating and maintaining England’s motorways and major A-roads and is pursuing an ambitious net zero plan, including for its 1,300-vehicle fleet. We spoke with National fleet manager Martin Edgecox who explained how the government owned company...

Tarmac expressed an interest in monitoring performance and improving the productivity, safety and sustainability of their fleet using telematics data. Masternaut worked with Tarmac to create a live, online dashboard that displayed the data for three headline metrics that Tarmac wanted to focus on...

Live Manager Training Program: Masternaut worked with Tarmac to design a national training program and a new standard operating procedure to ensure maximum effectiveness of the dashboard Masternaut trained every manager at Tarmac on how to use the dashboard effectively for their role, how...

Tarmac saw clear tangible improvements in all three areas of focus: Productivity, Safety and Sustainability. Within 3 months, all metrics showed significant improvement: Average decrease in speeding across all areas (from Oct 2019 – Jan 2020): 10% Highest decrease in speeding seen in the...

John Anderson, national logistics director for Tarmac, said: “As a leading responsible business with a nationwide fleet of HGVs, we are committed to advancing improvements to ensure that we maintain the highest possible standard for our fleet and anyone operating on behalf of...

Safety messages need to be effective for people to understand, to remember and to comply. If you really hit the jackpot with your messaging, you can also make your audience into advocates. In this three-part blog on messaging we look at what you say – and how you say it. How we frame those...

Are you a Safety Manager new to managing driver safety? This session will get you up to speed so you can get maximum value from the rest of our presentations. What are the key areas of managing driver and vehicle risk and who is responsible? This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event...

The growing number of vans on the nation’s roads means a growing number of new van drivers. What are the challenges they face, and what can employers do to ensure that van drivers – many of whom are young or inexperienced – remain safe on the roads? This session was recorded at The Health &...

Vehicle Checks. Safer Vehicles

Vehicle Checks. Safer Vehicles

Confidence in your fleet safety profile comes from three things. Understanding everything you’re responsible for, making sure everything is managed in line with industry best practices, and having a robust audit trail to prove everything was done correctly. Barrie will talk through the key things...

It’s very easy to assume that driver safety is the responsibility of the driver however, when it all goes wrong, investigators will look up and down the full transport chain. Nina will look at how that responsibility is shared throughout the transport chain from the driver right up to the top of...

The old ways aren’t always the best ways. They are just the way things have always been done and it’s time to make a shift. It is not an easy one. We aren’t just talking about technology and equipment, or conducting ‘behavioural safety training. The Big Shift is about embracing human...

Dr Gemma Briggs discusses research on the distraction imposed on drivers by mobile phone use, which can help to explain both how and why driving performance deteriorates. Her talk will consider how this research can: – Help those who drive for work, or employ drivers, understand specific issues...

Hazard perception testing has been part of the driver licensing procedure for 20 years, with considerable reductions in collisions attributed to its introduction. Despite this, hazard perception has yet to become a significant part of fleet drivers’ continuous professional development. This talk...

The transport and logistics industry typically covers off fatigue risk by adhering to hours of service legislation. In this session we’ll explain why that approach could be flawed and how your organisation could gain from paying a little more attention to sleep duration and quality.. This session...

Drivers that don’t exhibit the correct behaviours can present a big risk, both in safety, reputation and financial terms but good drivers can be very effective brand ambassadors. It is imperative that you have a strong safety culture and that this is promoted throughout the whole company. This...

Vehicle related incidents and collisions on private sites such as distribution centres, construction sites and haulage depots are common and can be extremely serious, leading to intrusive and public investigations and prosecutions. Chis will be looking in detail at common scenarios, consequences...

Our panel discuss all aspects of good practice in driver safety management. This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2022 and features Adrian Walsh – Executive Director of Roadsafe, Dave Conway – IMS & Road Safety Manager of FM Conway, Astrid van Der Burgt – Group Transport...

Official DVSA guide to the basic safety checks you should carry out before towing a trailer with a car or van.

3 important checks before you head out on the road with your trailer

Complete online guide to towing a trailer including: towing law, trailer preparation, stabilisers, servicing and maintenance, towbars and towing hitches and tachographs.

Check sheet is designed to help the user ensure that the relevant machine is correctly and safely maintained

This guide aims to help users of farm equipment to comply with the law in a practical way, using a  common set of forms to ensure your machinery better maintained and safer to use.

The NFU works hard to promote safety on rural roads, particularly at peak use times such as harvest and during winter weather. See our latest news, information and member briefings.

Tilly Pass is a comprehensive 18 point inspection carried out by authorised and fully qualified engineers. The Tilly Pass confirms the inspection has been passed and the trailer compliant.

Platform Housing Group has 47,000 social housing properties. Its subsidiary, Platform Housing Ltd runs 500 LCVs to allow employed tradespeople to maintain these properties. “When our operatives are behind the wheel, they are drivers, not engineers or carpenters or electricians. They have to...

Group Fleet Manager Matt Neale is responsible for the 500 light commercial vehicles used by another of Platform HG’s subsidiaries which services tenanted properties. Although all of Platform HG’s workforce is united by their overall status as part of the Platform HG charity, technically Matt...

Matt has supported the investment in a new driver training programme with Lightfoot. The app gives drivers real time coaching and alerts as they drive, as well as giving them feedback at the end of the day. It coaches them to work on areas for improvement, and challenges them to maintain strong...

Like many companies who embark on proper fleet governance for the first time, Matt is suffering from rising incidence figures as he insists on every knock being logged. However, once he has a correct baseline, he will also be able to properly chart the reductions which will come from his safety...

Matt has signed up for FORS as a way of improving protocols and professional standards. He says this supports the company in concentrating on the correct areas of education for drivers and their responsibilities.

The first 40 electric vehicles will join the fleet later this year and early adopters will get specific training during the detailed handover process. It is important to educate the drivers that electric vans are automatic, and more responsive to both brake and accelerator.

Matt is passionate about the fleet industry, and that of the housing, charitable sector. He regularly speaks to his peers at fellow housing associations, and as such he would very much welcome individuals who maybe require some additional support to assist in the improvement of their fleets....

AES Fleet offer fleet compliance solutions across the PSV, HGV and LCV sectors. As with all road risk management, however, the company’s good practice starts at home and MD Richard Stansfield says the business benefits to their fleet operation are substantial. AES runs nine Transit vans, from...

The company does not sell any compliance solution it doesn’t use itself and its risk management starts by checking all driver licences regularly through FleetCheck. It trains all its drivers in thorough walk-round checks and defect reporting every morning and keeps a spare vehicle on fleet so...

Webfleet Solutions telematics systems are integrated into its MANTIS LIVE camera systems, and this means that any exceptional incident such as harsh braking, an emergency alarm, or near miss is seen as an alert, the footage can be checked, and Richard immediately feeds back constructive criticism...

He believes the fleet’s running costs are also reduced by approximately 25% each year through preventative maintenance. “Reactive maintenance is always more expensive and creates unplanned downtime.” He cites brake pads as an example. If they are regularly checked and replaced, not only...

AES also takes an active interest in driver welfare and mental health. Drivers have accommodation provided after long journeys, so they do not drive when tired. Both senior managers have taken mental health awareness training, so they know how to offer appropriate support. “A van is a tool....

AES business benefits from road risk management include: Cheaper insurance year on year 25% cheaper running costs Better brand credibility No public complaints about poor driving in several years Immediate evidence should a claim occur with rapid first notification of loss No...

TES 2000 is a railway infrastructure and construction company. It runs 140 LCVs, mostly two-seater vans, which are used purely for driver transport. In April 2020 Mick Kiely became the first professional fleet manager the company had ever had. He tells us how he drove down incident rates and...

When Mick Kiely took over management of TES 2000’s fleet, he studied the company’s fleet insurance and incident reports and realised he needed to take drastic action. Apart from a handful of flatbeds and crew cab vehicles, the rest of the fleet are LCVs which are used purely for employee...

He reworked the drivers’ handbook and instituted an audit trail to ensure it had been read, which the fleet was previously lacking. A driver app called Veho Check allowed easy dissemination of the handbook. The app also facilitates daily vehicle checks, with a specific procedure drivers must...

In December 2020 Mick met with his insurance company, AXA Connect, to go over the company incident figures. He assured them that he could reduce the company’s work-related road risk but required their help and they responded by providing 50% of the funding for driver training. TES brought in a...

Mick introduced dash cams and telematics to all vehicles. The solutions, Vision Track and Driive with Reflex, are provided by the vehicle suppliers. He set up exception reports so that all risky incidents would come straight to him as an email alert. He then rings drivers as soon as they are off...

PCNs reduced by 96% Insurance reduced by 35% per vehicle Lease rises offset by maintenance savings 45% reduction in collisions in 16 months 20% reduction in fuel costs in two years despite price increases

All employees from HR to admin do the same learning as the drivers, even if they’re only driving their own vehicles. Mick says you cannot ask someone to do something if you’re not prepared to do it yourself. Mick says it would not have been possible to achieve all of this without the...

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Simon Turner - Campaign Manager, Driving for Better Business

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Kanwal Kanda - Principal Inspector, Head of HSE Transport Sector

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Simon Turner - Campaign Manager, Driving for Better Business

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Jim Magner - Programme Development Manager, Driving for Better Business

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Andrew Brown - Partnerships Director, CALM

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Chris Green - Partner, Keoghs

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Daniel Jones - UK Training Manager, Dtec

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Andrew Drewary - Managing Director, Road Safety Smart

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Barry Wilson - Commercial Fleet Consultant, FleetCheck

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Dr Paul Jackson - Director, Fresh Air Training

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Stephen Dethick - National Training Manager, Driver Hire Training

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Tony Greenidge - CEO, IAM Roadsmart

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Dr Julie Gandolfi - DriverMetrics

This session was recorded at The Health & Safety Event 2021 and features Stephen Dethick, Driver Hire; Tony Greenidge, IAM RoadSmart; Dr Julie Gandolfi - DriverMetrics and is chaired by Simon Turner, Driving for Better Business

Amey is a leading infrastructure services and engineering company. It designs and maintains many of the UK’s strategic assets, working with national and local government, and other commercial customers, to manage assets and complex projects. It has 11,000 employees, including operations,...

Do you have the best Driver Risk Management credentials? Would you like to be recognised for your driver risk management performance? National Highways is looking to celebrate the achievements of some of the UK’s best performing employers when it comes to managing driver risk, with the...

Driving is one of the most complex tasks we do in everyday life. It requires attention, decision-making, situational awareness and physical coordination. Several factors can impact on our ability to perform at our best when we are driving. One of these factors is driver fatigue.

WJ Group is one of the UK’s leading road safety and highway maintenance businesses. It specialises in delivering road markings, road studs, high friction and coloured safety surfacing, retexturing, crack and joint sealing, industrial surface preparation, marine surface coatings, TASCAR, CCTV, and...

For WJ Group, road safety and environmental protection go hand in hand. The fleet uses three million litres of diesel a year. Fuel reductions involve minimising mileage and promoting safer driving behaviours which lowers road risk and the company’s carbon impact. WJ implemented a driver...

Business Benefits from behavioural change: Less speeding and harsh acceleration, and smoother braking and cornering Improved community perception Over a 15 month period the company achieved: 40% reduction in accidents 45% reduction in associated costs 12% increase in mpg ...

WJ Group is a CLOCS champion, and its fleet is either FORS Silver or Bronze accredited depending upon the application. The UK Champions Awards 2022 – UK Fleet Champions – Fleet Safety Innovation Award 2022 Logistics UK LERS Leadership in Emissions Reduction Award 2020 It has also...

WJ Group buys its chassis from major truck manufacturers but then builds the final bodywork at its West Yorkshire plant. The chassis costs £70K- £80K but the final vehicle will be worth £150,000, and highly specialised. As a result, the fleet is an enormous capital asset to WJ Group, and this...

Most HGVs must be driven by someone with a corresponding C or C+E licence. However, road marking trucks can be driven on a car licence. This is not an exemption WJ Group takes advantage of. It trains all of its drivers to HGV standards, and pays for their licence acquisition as part of their road...

The Group Fleet Policy is backed by 17 further individual policies, ensuring legal compliance, and is a fundamental part of the Group integrated management systems. WJ Group’s Compliance Plan sets out clear procedures and responsibilities for: Management, Vehicles, Drivers, and Operations,...

Work-related road risk is a major factor in considering driver welfare – and driver welfare affects road risk. The safety ‘imperative’, as Paul calls it, is managed jointly between the Group Fleet Manager Scott Logan, the Training Manager Alan Brookes and Craig Williams with the Health and...

“Our behaviour and actions influence our culture and the community’s perception of us as an organisation,” says Craig. “We, in common with all fleet operators, have a significant number of incidents caused by poor behaviour.” The company has taken action to improve driver behaviour...

The Race2NetZero is an urgent priority for WJ Group. It measures, and have independently verified, its Scope 1 and 2 emissions and produce monthly fleet reports of CO2 as well as air quality emissions such as NOx, PMs, CO and hydrocarbons. The WJ fleet has the biggest environmental impact as a...

Driver Medicals – what do you need to know? The aim of this article is to provide clarity on exactly what a D4 medical is, its importance for drivers and those who manage drivers, and tips for fleet professionals and driver managers to share on how their drivers can stay healthy in preparation...

FM Conway is a leading infrastructure services company with over 60 years’ experience delivering vital services in transportation, the built environment and open spaces for communities and businesses. With innovation at the forefront of its operations, the business places a major focus on...

Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk: Driver Fatigue Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk: Driver Fatigue

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk: Driver Distraction

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk: Drivers Hours

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk - Vehicle Roadworthiness

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk: Safe Loading  

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Click here to watch the Toolbox Talk: Speed Limits

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Access the video here: Toolbox Talk - Safe Towing

Our Van Driver Toolbox Talks are designed to help you share important information with your drivers. You can download video files for each Toolbox Talk as well as notes on the content. Access the video here: Click the link to view: Toolbox Talk - Severe Weather

Network Rail owns, repairs and develops the railway infrastructure in England, Scotland and Wales. Up to 13,000 vehicles (including lease vehicles) support its management of 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals and level crossings as well as 20 of...

Simon Morgan heads up all corporate health and safety, including all workforce and rail passenger risk. Although this is a dizzyingly broad remit, he recognises that driving is still one of the organisation’s key risk areas to manage. While its engineers are very well versed in the health and...

Network Rail has created control processes and also a process definition document which looks at organisation, responsibility and accountability, data collection and objectives. Road risk sits within health and safety, one of Network Rail’s 16 core processes. A proper governance structure means...

Network Rail has a very positive history with telematics, as its previous system saved it 10% of its multi-million-pound fuel bill. It also substantially reduced its NIPs (Notice of Intended Prosecutions) for speeding. Two years ago the company decided to upgrade to a new system, but the...

Network Rail is very conscious of the risk of fatigue, as its workers often fix railway lines at night when services are naturally reduced. “In principle we would like to be able to analyse our shift patterns to see if we can lower the risk of driver fatigue,” he says. “We are currently...

Simon has also studied the mandated licence checks which all of its drivers undergo. He’s found that while 80% go through Network Rail’s automated system, about 20% are checked visually by managers. However, the audit trails on paper-based checks are challenging. Simon is now asking for...

The data recording system incorporates the daily walk-round safety check every driver should complete on their vehicle, making it easier to ensure compliance. The next level of assurance would be inspections by regional management and finally the internal audit team will investigate and validate...

Miele GB distributes and sells its German parent company’s extensive range of domestic and commercial appliances, such as dishwashers, ovens, coffee machines and vacuum cleaners. It also has a professional division which services public buildings such as care homes, hotels and hospitals. Miele GB...

Consistent reduction in insurance premiums year on year since 2019 23% reduction in claims in 2022 compared to 2019 Speeding review time reduced from 1.5 hours to 10 mins (2018 vs 2022) Won AFP Fleet Bursary based on improvements

Miele’s car drivers tend to plan their own schedules, while the van fleet is scheduled by Head Office. Mandy says the drivers themselves were keen to engage with the idea of fleet safety, but organisationally she realised Miele was lacking key governance components. When the previous fleet...

Van drivers receive in-vehicle training from AA DriveTech, and Mandy has also extended in-person training to all car drivers. She says occasional resistance to delaying a driver’s vehicle allocation until they have had adequate training was quickly overcome by managers’ acceptance of the safety...

Although the company already had Webfleet telematics installed in 2018, no one within the fleet department was responsible for analysing the data. Mandy focused first on speeding data, sharing inappropriate speeding incidents with the drivers concerned. She emphasised that it was an endorsable...

This Safe Loading Code of Practice (The Code) has been compiled to offer guidance to drivers and operators of vehicle transporters to address the basic issues which can lead to serious incidents where personal injury and damage are all too common.

Your monthly Driving for Better Business Fleet Safety Focus Update in collaboration with the National Highways Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team.

Driver fatigue may be a contributory factor in up to 20% of road incidents, and up to one quarter of fatal and serious incidents. It’s a huge risk for fleets, drivers and for the general public – and commercial vehicle drivers are vulnerable to fatigue due to demanding workloads and high...

Distraction is a leading a cause of collision. Whether manual, visual or cognitive, a distracted driver is not in full control of their vehicle, nor able to process and adapt to the changing environment around them. Fleets should educate drivers about the huge risks associated with distraction,...

There are many law enforcement procedures relating to the safe loading of your vehicle, and it’s important to note that policy and law are there to keep you and those around you safe. The following article is an insight to help drivers, operators, fleet managers and those involved in loading...

How safe do you think your fleet is today? It’s very easy to think that, because a fleet has been incident free for a while, everything must be fine. That can then lead to complacency, and an incident happening, seemingly out of nowhere. Assess your fleet confidence level with this tool -...

Working with the National Highways Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team, we have produced a van driver handbook to assist van drivers and fleet operators in dispelling uncertainty and myth. You can also share the online Van Driver Toolkit with your drivers, or you may prefer to share...

Auto Windscreens repairs and replaces automotive glass for all types of vehicles. It also undertakes Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) calibrations following windscreen replacements, to ensure technology such as forward-facing cameras, lane departure or speed recognition sensors continue to...

19% cut in cost of collisions. Incidents per 100,000 miles dropped from 2.8 (2019) to 1.7 (2022). Auto Windscreens has 72 sites working across 24 geographical areas. Its technicians visit customers’ homes and workplaces to repair and replace vehicle glass, and an increasing proportion...

In 2019, Auto Windscreens completed its roll-out of VisionTrack’s forward-facing cameras and telematics solution, through which it measures driver performance. All of the data for fleet management and driver performance is collated in a management information tool called Microsoft Power BI....

Another tack the company has taken is to upgrade its Transit Custom vans to the Transit Trend, which offers far greater driver comfort. They are also equipped with ADAS technology, including emergency braking, lane assist and speed sign recognition. This has brought multiple benefits...

The camera footage and telematics data always form part of the new recruit inductions, so that new drivers understand how the systems work, and what information the managers will receive from it. “It is essential to educate people about your expectations and policies, but also about the...

Auto Windscreens has changed its options for company cars so that all new choices are electric and will have a fully electrified car fleet by 2026. Its van fleet will also be electrified, but the roadmap is still being finalised. Although Shaun has identified an eLCV with sufficient range, the...

Auto Windscreens operates an emergency out of hours service, however the number of night-time call-outs has shrunk considerably, as while customers can book work 24/7 through the service centre, most wait to book the next day. This eliminates the issues of night-time driver fatigue or broken...

Although the company has not yet seen a reduction in premiums because of inflation, its premiums have held steady. In 2019 its incidents per 100,000 miles stood at 2.8, compared to 1.7 at the end of 2022. Its claims cost has dropped by 19% since 2019. The type and severity of incident has...

The company has carefully managed its fuel usage and mileage, concentrating on specific focus areas such as: Better driver behaviour Less idling Better job density on journeys. “We have educated drivers about the value of fuel, putting the monetary cost in terms of real-world...

Insecure loads are illegal, and highly dangerous. 62,000 items fell off vehicles onto the strategic road network in 2022. This is a key cause of injury, serious collisions and network delays. Drivers must be trained in how to secure their loads, and in the correct use of appropriate restraint...

Drug driving among commercial vehicle drivers is one the fastest growing and most concerning challenges facing driver safety managers, with many police forces reporting more drug driving offences than drink driving ones. This talk will look at the size of the problem, good practice on driving for...

On a day that started out just like any other, Bob Adams, a van driver very similar to many of those that work for you, begins his day’s work schedule. Some very common examples of poor driver safety management align and result in a serious incident involving a cyclist – but was it the...

Speedy Services is the UK’s leading tool, equipment and plant hire services company, with specialist divisions including powered access, lifting, survey, rail and power. It supplies a wide range of equipment to major infrastructure, and construction projects, and to trade and retail customers...

13% reduction in incidents 2022, year on year Reduction in insurance premiums 90% recovery of uninsured loss

Speedy Services invests extensively in safety kit for its commercial vehicles. Its vehicles are equipped with: Front and rear crash protection (autonomous emergency braking systems) HALO systems which project illuminated turning areas onto the road and also for the use of tail-lifts ...

Both Aaron and Gareth have cameras in their own vehicles to promote driver buy in. Some drivers were initially worried at the thought of ‘being watched’ but once assured that the footage is only consulted in the event of an incident or third-party claim, they accepted them. In fact the camera...

Gareth says that when they started in the fleet business, the emphasis was on first notification of loss. Now it is all about first notification of risk. Essentially this switches the culture from being reactive – “how fast can we tell an insurer about the collision” – to proactive –...

Speedy Services is whole-fleet accredited to FORS Gold for the 9th consecutive year, a CLOCS champion and has DVSA Earned Recognition. It also works closely with the City of London police and other constabularies, using its trucks for ‘exchanging places’ events with cyclists. Its training is...

The fleet telematics data was instrumental in allowing Speedy Services to know which vehicles were suitable for transitioning to electric. It has now invested in Fuso eCanters, Electra Econic 27t, and 3.5 tonne Ford eTransits and has 50 eTransit panel van and 100 eTransit chassis cabs on...

A look at good and bad driving behaviour, the key performance indicators that will enhance driver safety, and the telematics and camera technology to help understand and mitigate driver risk.

Galaxy Insulation and Dry Lining supplies building materials including insulation and dry lining blocks from 14 locations across the UK. Wayne Allen, Group Logistics Manager, manages its 64 HGVs and 21 vans, which are deployed across its 14 depots. He explains the steps he took to raise Galaxy’s...

As well as maintaining its FORS Gold status, Galaxy will now aim for DVSA Earned Recognition status. Wayne says this will prove it has excellent compliance systems. Wayne says it is important to recognise the value of the process. “Audits and accreditations are a chance to review where you...

Galaxy uses RAM Tracking to monitor its drivers, and line managers read the generated reports weekly. However, Wayne emphasises that when feedback is given to drivers, it is never punitive, but always supportive. Equally their driver training is geared to maximise driver investment in the process....

Galaxy’s insurance claims handler provides a claims portal with a dedicated phone line for drivers to call in the event of a collision. This provides instant first notification of loss, and better collation of information at the scene, both of which Wayne expects to drive down claims costs.

Wayne says that safety is an integral part of Galaxy’s culture. The £95m turnover company is now employee-owned, but it already had a long history of close ties with its employees. It emphasises employee well-being, with a health scheme, financial well-being consultancy, and mental health...

Anyone driving for work, and the company which employs them, has a responsibility to ensure that their vehicle moves safely around other road users, and in particular vulnerable road users. Recent changes to the Highway Code created a hierarchy of road users which means those who can do most...

Heineken is the company behind some of the UK’s leading beer and cider brands, and owns 2,400 pubs and bars. Heineken UK won the Safety and Health Excellence Award 2023, sponsored by National Highways for Best Driver Risk Management Performance. Heineken’s Workspace and Safety Partner Reka...

Heineken is the company behind some of the UK’s leading beer and cider brands, and owns 2,400 pubs and bars. Reka Nagy joined as the company’s workspace and safety partner in 2019, and realised that its 300+ company cars needed engaged and comprehensive management. Its 326 company car...

7.5% reduction in claims overall in 2022 compared with 2021, despite average annual mileage rising from 10,000 miles pa to 18,000 miles pa. Speed related endorsements dropped from 30 (2020) to 13 (2022) 17.5% saving in collision and breakdown costs (2022 vs 2021) 8% reduction in...

All the drivers underwent a psychometric risk assessment, with nuanced and filtered questions to ascertain their attitudes to driving risk and likely behaviours. The test used is Driver Metrics Profiling, the product of academics from Cranfield University.

The results determined what training or follow-up support the drivers received. “It’s important not to have a blanket response,” says Reka. “We offered a range of learning options, from e-courses to a half day on-road training for high-risk drivers.” The initiative began in 2021, with...

While the company had previously had access to telematics data, it was neither used not fed back to drivers. This is perhaps the most problematic of all words for fleet operations – to have evidence of risk but not address it. Reka enlisted the help of a legal and employee council to bring the...

As well as the Driver Metrics modules, Reka looks for ways to keep drivers engaged with ongoing communication about road safety. She says not all safety messaging should come from the designated safety officers. “It is important to involve others. For us, involving those who are well respected...

Brakes Road Safety Week 2023 - Download a ZIP file containing a PDF safety card and the video toolbox talk for Speed Limits

Brakes Road Safety Week 2023 - Download a ZIP file containing a PDF safety card and the video toolbox talk for Driver Fatigue

Brakes Road Safety Week 2023 - Download a ZIP file containing a PDF safety card and the video toolbox talk for Vehicle Checks

Brakes Road Safety Week 2023 - Download a ZIP file containing a video toolbox talks for Speed Limits, Driver Fatigue & Vehicle Checks

Did you know? 1 in 5 accidents are caused by tiredness. Peak times for fatigue-related crashes are within the hours of 02.00-06.00 and 14.00-16.00. Sleeping just 4-5 hours a night for a week impairs performance to the same extent as being legally over the alcohol limit.

Did you know? Penalties for speeding range from £100 – £2,500 and between 3 and 6 penalty points. Drivers who go to court for speeding, could be fined up to 175% of their weekly salary and even be disqualified from driving. Speeding fines vary for certain types of roads and for...

Did you know? MOT Tests - Half of all vans fail their MOT at the first attempt. Enforcement - The police and DVSA have the power to carry out spot checks on vehicles and stop you using the vehicle (prohibition). Roadside Checks - Two thirds of vans stopped at the roadside by the DVSA have a...

The Canal and River Trust (C&RT) looks after 2,000 miles of historic canals and rivers including 2,949 bridges, 1,582 locks and 280 aqueducts. UK waterways encompass seven historic parks and gardens, 2,706 buildings and structures, six battlefields, 46 scheduled monuments and four World...

The driver risk assessments are complemented by separate scores from Teletrac Navman telematics. The FS score shows compliance with the company’s policies, including insurance and qualification to drive; and the telematics scores their actual driving. “Being able to access data and...

The driver handbook has been renewed and reissued. One of the benefits of a single-platform management system is that every driver can acknowledge that they have been issued with the handbook and policies and agree to abide by them. The handbook will soon be available online as well as in hard copy...

The Trust has invested in specific driver training for new starters and those in need of improvement. No one with less than two years driving’ experience can drive a Trust vehicle, but Steve says that issues with drivers tend to be attitudinal rather than skill-based. The training emphasises...

Trust vehicles carry aggregates, tools and equipment and so loading requirements can vary. The organisation has two sets of mobile scales and visits two depots, unannounced every month to check the weights of vehicles. This is both educational for the drivers and gives an immediate insight into...

Saved £201,000 in first year Reduced annual fleet spend by 14% year on year 52% increase in licence check compliance 21% reduction in non-fault collisions 19% cut in at-fault collisions Up to 12% fuel saving for specifically trained drivers

Driver Fatigue and Lack of sleep. Are your drivers sleep aware? It may seem obvious that sleep is important to us all, but for HGV drivers, Van drivers, and everyone who drives for work, it’s critical. Download this Road Skills Online Poster to help get the message across.

Guide to maintaining roadworthiness - commercial goods and public service vehicles

Driving for Better Business is proud to host, and signpost, a number of official DVSA resources to support employers of staff that drive for work and driver trainers working with commercial vehicle fleets. The following resources include unbranded, editable PowerPoint presentation for trainers...

Driving for Better Business is proud to host, and signpost, a number of official DVSA resources to support employers of staff that drive for work and driver trainers working with commercial vehicle fleets. The following course videos were previously hosted by Jaupt but are now hosted by Driving...

Driving for work policy example. The law says all companies must have policies and procedures to minimise risk – and that includes the recognised risks around driving. Your driving for work policy is how you demonstrate your commitment to doing this well.

There has been a staggering 400% rise in drug driving since March 2020, compared with 250% for drink driving in the same period. Drug driving includes those on prescription drugs. Companies should: Educate directors and managers about drugs and alcohol misuse. Learn how to recognise...

We presented three days of expert opinion, good practice and thought leadership in the Driver Safety Zone 2024. It was a vital update for safety professionals. The videos of all sessions are now available - including the Mock Trial of an employer. Watch what happens when a serious incident...

Northern Powergrid manages the electricity network that powers everyday life for more than eight million people across 3.9 million homes and businesses in north-east England, Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire. It uses a range of vehicles including passenger cars, commercial vans and trucks as...

10.7% reduction in collisions in 2023 against 2022 – despite increasing mileage by 700,000 No absence time due to driving incidents in 2023 Improved telematics scores from 94.3 to 95.83 tCO2e emissions reduction of 6.4%.

Northen Powergrid looks at collisions in terms of preventability. Any damage such as a cracked number plate or a broken indicator lens on the door mirror on a Ford Transit is noted and examined, so that even an incident causing the most minor damage is classed as a preventable collision. Northern...

Northern Powergrid has a strict policy covering driving for business. Its driving for work policy was updated in 2023, covering all aspects of how drivers are expected to perform on the road, and in specific situations, such as breakdown or emergency. All drivers have access to the policy and must...

First-line mangers are pivotal in influencing driver safety. In 2023 the organisation introduced a one-day course for first-line managers covering fleet safety issues, legal obligations, understanding management data, and how to have difficult conversations with drivers. Feedback has been excellent...

The vehicles are used by employees to travel between sites and offices, in order to carry out their jobs, or to pick up and transport equipment. The business operates 24/7, 365 days a year in all weather conditions and with a blend of shift workers. The weather has a major impact on the electricity...

In January 2023 the organisation implemented a telematics score dashboard. Dashboard data provided to the management team of every fleet driver on a weekly basis. The company has a dedicated Driver Safety and Performance Manager who holds a monthly meeting with the second line manager of all fleet...

The policy states that everyone driving on business must have a permit to drive each relevant category of vehicle. Permits are only issued after a completion of a desktop-based risk assessment, a classroom Safe Driver Induction Workshop and 2.5 days in cab training with a pass/fail Driver and...

The organisation set its cap at two new accreditations during 2023, focusing on legal compliance in light commercial vehicle (LCV) management and occupational health and safety management (OSHM). John Wilkinson says these both contribute directly to fleet safety. It achieved both the Logistics UK...

David Phillips Furniture provides a comprehensive service for the property market and retailers, providing furniture for housing developments, student accommodation, social housing, showcase projects and those renting out properties. Its fleet is therefore used for the delivery and installation of...

53% reduction in collisions Fleet maintenance costs reduced by 35% year on year 30% fewer vehicles needed (48 vehicles down to 34) year on year 12.5% year-on-year decrease in insurance premiums 19% fuel saving year on year As well as the substantial benefits listed above, the company has...

Near-miss reporting allowed the company to analyse and address issues which could cause collisions, before a crash occurred. This also had the benefit of directly engaging drivers in the safety process and allowing their insights to shape outcomes. Banksman and drivers’ mates reduce the risk of...

David Phillips introduced a workplace ambassador structure to enhance accountability and foster ownership among staff. It also joined FORS, and involved its drivers in its preparation and the audit necessary for accreditation

The company’s policy lays out exactly what is expected of drivers, in a wide variety of circumstances. It covers safe driving, activities to avoid while driving or in the vehicle, such as taking phone calls, eating or smoking, how to respond in an emergency or breakdown, alcohol and drug use and...

“At our organisation, managing driver risk is integral to our corporate values of integrity, ambition, customer obsession, creativity, teamwork and productivity. Integrity means prioritising the safety of our team and communities. Ambition drives continuous improvement in safety standards, while...

All the policies are kept in SharePoint, so can be accessed by any staff member at any time. Any changes are communicated to staff each year at a toolbox talk. More broadly says Ben: “Every morning, we start our meetings with a Safety Tip, Quality Tip, and a Success Story. For example:...

Willmott Dixon is a British privately-owned, contracting and interior fi t-out group. Founded in 1852, its stated mission is to deliver brilliant buildings, which serve and strengthen communities while enhancing local communities. Also sister business Fortem provides specialist property maintenance...

22% at-fault collision reduction for company cars 7% reduction in at fault collisions for vans Van driver speeding down 20% Average driver risk score improved 35% 200 hours saved in claims management time Driver compliance across all vehicles is 99.2% Reduction in driver...

Willmott Dixon communicates clearly to staff that managing road risk is a mandatory health and safety requirement, both within the organisation, and as part of Willmott Dixon’s statutory responsibility to ensure public and employee safety. The company’s driver policy and handbook are reviewed...

70% of company cars and 100% of vans have dashcams. The company also has telematics in operation on all company vans. Van driver telematics scores improved with those in the low-risk green band shifting from 91% in 2022 to 97% in 2023. Medium risk drivers also reduced from 8% of drivers to 3%....

Willmott Dixon Holdings (including Fortem) has circa 2,800 employees, including 2,000 who use their vehicles for work. Grey fleet drivers use their own vehicles daily for meetings or site visits. Company car drivers use their vehicles for work as well as personal use. There are also up to 400 named...

Sareen reviewed the recruitment of new starters to include licence-checking either during the selection process, or before the employee’s start date. Regular licence checks are then carried out depending on individual driver risk ratings. Initial licence screening has helped to reduce the number...

Vehicle Roadworthiness – does everyone understand their responsibilities? The legislation on vehicle roadworthiness is very clear – your vehicle must be safe and roadworthy at all times. It’s also important to know that the law applies to both the driver and the operator – they...

Weather Conditions – does everyone understand their responsibilities? Driving is, for most people, the most dangerous activity they do. Changes in weather conditions could easily make driving more dangerous, whether these are seasonal changes or weather events. Be sure your drivers are...