Over 14,000 road collisions between 2008 and 2011 may have been work related. The figures include as many as 4,672 vans, trucks and buses. A further 9,427 collisions involving private cars could also have been work related.

Driving for work includes any person who drives on a road as part of their work either in:

• A vehicle provided by their employer; or
• Their own vehicle and receives an allowance or payment from their employer for distances driven.

Commuting to work is not generally classified as driving for work, except where the person’s journey starts from their home and they are travelling to a work location that is not their normal place of work.

As an employer or self-employed person, you have a legal duty to manage the risks that employees face (and create for others) when they drive for work. Businesses, employees and the community all benefit from safe driving for work. You should have systems in place to make sure that employees comply with your driving for work policies. Employers cannot directly control road or weather conditions, but they can influence the way their employees act and behave on the road.

The laws that require safe driving for work in Ireland include:

• Road Traffic Acts and associated regulations: relating to vehicles, driver licensing, driving offences, insurance, rules of the road and speed limits;
• Road Transport Acts and associated regulations: relating to road haulage and road passenger transport operations, transport managers professional driver hours;
• European Communities (Road Transport) (Organisation of Working Time of Persons Performing Mobile Road Transport Activities) Regulations 2012: relating to working time of mobile road transport workers; and
• Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated regulations: relating to work activities, workplaces, work equipment and worker protection.

Programme Breakdown

Corribview Safety Services Ltd. can assist in implementing a safe systems approach to managing driving for work in your workplace tailored to your Companies specific needs. A driving for work programme can benefit your business in a number of ways, but its main aim should be to improve safety. Developing a programme will help you understand the factors involved in driving for your business and your responsibilities as an employer.

With a strong policy in place, you’ll find it easier to continually assess the risks your employees face in driving for work and to make recommendations and changes promptly and effectively.

Our driving for work programme includes the following;

• Driving for Work Checklist
• Develop a driving for work policy
• Risk Assess driving for work hazards
• Put safe systems into practice
• Measure safety performance
• Review of Safety Performance

The programme will be built around Safe Drivers Safe Vehicles and Safe Journeys.

Advantages of implementing our programme

Your Business

• increased employee loyalty and enhanced public image by showing commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
• compliance with the to the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act and the Rules of the Road
• reduced likelihood of employee injury or death and subsequent sickness and dependency costs
• increased productivity
• savings on fuel, maintenance and repair costs by improving travel planning and driving
• avoidance of insurance increases
• improvement of business’s legal defense if a claim is made against it

Your employees

• increased safety
• enhanced training
• better insight into the company

The community

• increased safety for road users (drivers, cyclists and pedestrians)
• increased safety for public and private property
• better connection to your business