Road safety charity Brake has published a guidance pack for fleets on tackling driver distraction.
The pack includes a survey report, best practice guidance for managers and an advice sheet for drivers, and is available for free to those that register for Road Safety Week.
The guidance includes advice delivered at a recent Brake webinar on tackling driver distraction, with sponsorship from Romex.
The advice sheet provides tips for drivers on how they can avoid distraction. They are published alongside the results of a recent Brake survey of fleet managers, sponsored by Licence Bureau, focusing on how fleets are tackling this risk.
“Having witnessed three fatal crashes and attended many more, in which it is believed at least one of the drivers was distracted, I do not want anyone to suffer the devastating effects these crashes cause,” said Les Owen from Licence Bureau. “Those responsible for drivers at work know of the risks of distraction, yet so many are not doing simple things that can prevent collisions.
“We recommend introducing checks on what drivers are doing while driving, followed up by management action and communication to staff. This will help ensure all drivers in the company are aware of what can happen if they are distracted at the wheel.”
Of those surveyed, 98% of fleets take some form of action on mobile phone risk, including educating drivers on the risks (58%) and banning all hand-held or hands-free mobile phone use at the wheel (28%). However, of fleets with sat navs installed, less than half (48%) require drivers not to adjust these while driving.
Roz Cumming, professional engagement manager at Brake, said: “These resources highlight the danger distracted drivers pose to themselves and other road users, and give clear guidance on the steps fleet managers can take against this risk.”
Road Safety Week is coordinated annually by the charity Brake, taking place from 18-24 November, with headline sponsors Romex and Specsavers, and the main theme ‘tune in to road safety’.
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I think it is time that the car manufacturers played their part in this. There is so much electronic gadgetry within cars these days that drivers are tempted to change things as they are driving and this takes away their concentration the same as if answering a telephone call. When you are driving it is 100% concentration otherwise you are putting yourself and others at risk! Keep going at it Brake!