RoSPA Young Drivers at Work Report

Chapter 1
Introduction
Young drivers at work face, and create, a higher risk than
other drivers because they are inexperienced and because
driving for work is higher risk than driving for personal
reasons. Both young drivers and at-work drivers were
identified as priority groups in the second three-year
review of the road safety strategy.
With funding from the DfT’s road safety partnership grant,
and with the help of a working group including the DfT,
DSA, Buckinghamshire and Lancashire County Councils,
Birmingham City Council and Roadsafe, RoSPA conducted a
‘Young Drivers at Work Study’ among employers who have
young staff (17-24 years) who drive as part of their work
and young at-work drivers themselves. Chapter 2 outlines
the methodology of the report.
The study comprised individual interviews with employers
and managers of young at-work drivers, a questionnaire
survey of a wide range of employers, and a number of
focus groups with young drivers who drove as part of
their job.
The study explored whether employers, and young drivers,
thought that learner driver training, and the driving test,
provides young drivers with the knowledge, skills and
attitudes they need when driving for work (as opposed to
driving for their own private purposes). It also sought to
assess whether employers, and young at-work drivers,
would value and use additional ‘driving for work’
qualifications, and if so, what they thought should be
included in such a qualification and the most suitable
format(s) and method(s) of delivery.
Chapter 3 explores the views of employers, from the
questionnaire survey and individual telephone interviews,
on whether they think learner driver training and the
driving test prepares young drivers for the type of driving
that is required when driving for work.
Chapter 4 explores employers’ views on whether a
post-test driving for work qualification would be useful.
Chapter 5 outlines views on the most suitable content,
format and delivery method for such a qualification.
Chapter 6 explores whether any additional resources
would encourage employers and young drivers to make
use of a driving for work qualification.
Chapter 7 details the results of the focus groups with
young at-work drivers.
Chapter 8 discusses some ‘overarching themes’ that
emerged from the qualitative interviews with employers,
and the focus groups with young at-work drivers.
Chapter 9 relates the findings of the research to the DSA’s
Competency Framework, in an attempt to ascertain the
key elements of the Competency Framework where
respondents identified gaps relevant to young drivers in
the context of driving for work. It is hoped that this will
help to assess how the Competency Framework supports
the specific needs of at-work drivers and inform future
developments in relation to the range/scope of core
competencies in this specific context.
Chapter 10 discusses the main findings of the research, and
Chapter 11 contains the conclusion and recommendations.
Three case studies are included in Appendix A.
A further aim was to match the findings from the research
onto the DSA’s Competency Framework. Although most
employers are not yet aware of the Competency
Framework, their responses could be matched to elements
in the framework.
4 Young Drivers at Work Report