Business Drivers
What makes business drivers more vulnerable?
Driving is the most dangerous work activity that most people do and should be treated as the safety critical activity it is. Whether it’s in a car, powered two-wheeler, van or HGV – driving or riding for work contributes to far more work-related accidental deaths and serious injuries than any other work activity.
Additionally, more deaths occur from road travel whilst working than at the workplace. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) estimate that more than a quarter of all road traffic incidents involve somebody who is driving for work at the time.
There are a number of factors which can affect the safety of business drivers, including:
- Driver inattention or distraction (such as mobile phone use, and other in-vehicle distractions)
- Driver impairment (such as alcohol, drugs or prescription medication)
- Driver fatigue
- Unmanaged or undiagnosed medical conditions
- Incorrect or unsafe loading of vehicles or unsuitable vehicle use
Employers have a legal responsibility to not only protect employees whilst driving at work, but also on their commute. Additionally, employers have a responsibility to anyone who may be affected by their employees driving for work activities, including other road users.
As the economy is changing, there are more people working in the gig economy. It is important to ensure their safety and well-being even though they could be classed as self-employed – the employer responsibility extends to anyone who’s driving activity is directed as part of their work.
Around one third of road deaths occur in driving-for-work collisions
of those killed in a work-related journey are passengers, pedestrians and riders rather than the at-work drivers and riders
of pedestrian deaths involve a work driver
useful FAQs
Where can I find more useful resources?
Have a look at the sections below for more details about how to keep yourself safe on Devon & Cornwall’s roads.
Where can I get information for my van drivers?
The Van Driver Toolkit
Working with the National Highways Commercial Vehicle Incident Prevention Team, we have produced a series of driver information online modules to assist van drivers and fleet operators in dispelling uncertainty and myth. You can share the whole toolkit with your drivers, or you may prefer to share individual modules whenever you want to check understanding of best practice, or reinforce your driving for work policies.
The toolkit will help you implement best practice for what is required to reduce costs, improve operating conditions and ensure safe and legal vehicles and wellbeing for your drivers.
All resources are available in Email PDF, Print PDF & Responsive Webpage https://vandrivertoolkit.co.uk/formats
What speed can my van travel at?
Full details are available here: https://www.gov.uk/speed-limits
Where can I get information about load security?
Here are some useful sites:
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/load-securing-vehicle-operator-guidance/load-securing-vehicle-operator-guidance
- https://assets.highwaysengland.co.uk/Commercial+Vehicles/Ratchet+Strap+Leaflet.pdf
- https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Securing-Loads-on-Flatbed-Vehicles.pdf
- https://youtu.be/HXVQxn24kiw
- https://www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/resource/van-driver-toolkit-safe-loading/
How can I support my drivers' mental health?
How can I check a driving licence and what are the categories and codes?
Where can I get examples of a company drug and alcohol policy?
View resources from: Driving for Better Business
I used to use a company car but now use my own. What do I need to do?
Employees’ Responsibilities Employees must co-operate with their employer’s health and safety procedures and follow their rules and policies when using their own vehicle for work. They must play their part, by ensuring that they are properly licensed and insured to drive for work, fit to drive, plan their journeys safely and comply with road traffic laws when driving.
They need to understand, and follow, the organisation’s driving for work policies and procedures. They also need to accept that if they drive their own vehicle for work, their employer has the same legal duty to ensure it is safe and legal as they have for company vehicles. They must also make sure their motor insurance policy includes business use cover, and they have told their insurers that they use the vehicle for work, and how they do so.
You can find more information here: https://www.rospa.com/rospaweb/docs/advice-services/road-safety/employers/work-own-vehicles.pdf
What is the minimum tyre depth for a car tyre?
Cars, Goods vehicles (<3,500kg), Trailers and caravans (<3,500kg)
At least 1.6mm throughout a continuous band in the centre 3/4 of the tread and around the entire circumference of the tyre.
Most larger vehicles
At least 1.0mm throughout a continuous band across at least 3/4 of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference. The original tread pattern must be visible in the remaining quarter.
Motorcycles 50cc and over
At least 1.0mm throughout a continuous band across at least 3/4 of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference. The original tread pattern must be visible in the remaining quarter.
Mopeds and motorcycles under 50cc
The original tread pattern must be visible.
Current UK law states that tyre tread on cars must be at a minimum of 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tread, around its entire circumference. This can easily checked with the use of a 20p coin.
How can I check the depth of my car tyre?
A quick and easy way to see if your car/van tyre tread exceed the minimum legal tread depth is to take the 20p test
Simply place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If the outer band of the 20p coin is obscured when it is inserted, then your tread is above the legal limit. If the outer band of the coin is visible, then your tyres may be illegal and unsafe and should be checked immediately by a qualified tyre professional.
When taking the test, remember to check at least three locations around each tyre. As the test is so quick and easy, stay safe by checking your tyres at least once a month
Do electric cars use different tyres?
One key reason why tyres for electric vehicles are typically different to those of a petrol or diesel car is weight. At present, battery packs are extremely heavy, even more so than traditional engines, making EVs overall heavier than a petrol or diesel engine model.
That weight is ultimately carried by the tyres. Without adaptation to compensate for this weight, the tyres would be susceptible to premature wearing, much more quickly than an owner is used to, making replacement far more frequent. As a result, EV tyres are constructed to carry the higher loadings, are reinforced and may carry the HL loading markings.
You can find more useful information about electric vehicle tyres here: https://www.tyresafe.org/tyres-for-electric-vehicles/