Free resources offered to firms who want to tackle tired driving

The Fleet Safety Forum is urging fleet managers to tackle the silent killer of driver tiredness in a campaign launched this week – and is offering the first 50 companies to get in touch a free information pack.

The Wake Up! campaign calls on employers to do more to manage drivers’

schedules and health to prevent driver tiredness, particularly during

the recession, when employees might be under pressure to get more work

done.

The Forum, which is coordinated by the charity Brake, has produced a free information pack for fleet managers and their drivers containing straightforward guidance to help them recognise the signs of tiredness on the road and prevent tired driving in the first place.

The information pack is free from the charity to the first 50 companies who call 01484 559909 quoting ‘wake up’. Companies that subscribe to the Fleet Safety Forum also receive the information for free. A Wake Up! Workshop will also be held on 5 November in Leeds, exploring best practice in managing the risk of tiredness among company drivers. Information is available from the number above.

Research by Brake on driver tiredness among fleet drivers has found that one in ten at-work drivers admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel, compared with one in 20 drivers who don’t drive for work. Half of at-work drivers admit to getting behind the wheel after less than five hours’ sleep, compared with 35 per cent of drivers who don’t drive for work.

Roz Cumming, Fleet Safety Forum manager at Brake, said: “Driver tiredness is a deadly and major killer that can creep up on a company with no warning, particularly during times when business is tough, unless commonsense risk management practices are applied.  I urge fleet managers to support the Wake Up! Campaign and help Brake to save lives by attending this important workshop and calling us for our free information pack.”