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High risks of at-work driving
revealed in new crash statistics
The unacceptable death and injury toll
involving people driving for work on UK
roads has been revealed in a major new
study. Nearly one-in-three road deaths
involves a driving-for-work trip the survey
found, and 39 per cent of pedestrian
deaths involve a ‘working’ driver.
The study was made on behalf of
Highways England and charitable
partnership Roadsafe.
It means that more deaths occur from
at-work road trips than at the workplace,
despite the dangers posed by industries
such as construction, farming and
mining. Most of those involved are
non-professional drivers, meaning they
drive company cars or are in the ‘grey
fleet’ sector.
In 2018, 520 people died in collisions
involving a driver or rider driving for work,
but only 12 per cent (63) of them were
working drivers or riders. Five per cent
(25) of the fatalities were passengers of a
driver driving for work, while 83 per cent
(432) of those killed were non-working
road-users.
The figures are in sharp contrast to the
total of 144 people killed in workplace
accidents during the course of work in
the UK in the year 2017/18.
The survey – Driving for work - a
strategic review of risks associated with
cars and light vans, implications for
policy and practice – estimates that up
to 39 per cent of pedestrian fatalities in
the UK were in collision with a ‘working’
driver, causing up to 11 pedestrian
deaths a month.
The study, conducted by UCL and
Agilysis, says there is a “lack of attention
to work-related road safety” by
policymakers. It warns that despite a
rapid increase in vans (up by 27 per cent
from 3.24m light goods vehicles in 2011
to 4.12m in 2019) and people working
in the gig economy, this sector falls
outside the strict regulations governing
other occupational drivers.
Despite businesses switching to ‘last
mile deliveries’ by vans – coinciding with
the boom in internet shopping – vans and
drivers are not subject to the strict driver
training, drivers’ hours restrictions and
roadworthiness regulations on HGVs.
On average, finds the study, vans are
being driven 12,800 miles a year,
accounting for 15.4 per cent of all vehicle
mileage. Two in 10 of these journeys
occur on minor urban roads.
Nick Starling, Chair of the Transport
Safety Commission Work Related Road
Safety Forum said: “As a society, we rely
on those driving for work. Twenty-nine
per cent of all fatalities, 24 per cent of
the seriously injured, and 21 per cent of
all casualties are sustained when
someone involved in an injury collision is
driving for work. Vans and drivers are not
subject to the same strict regulation as
HGVs and buses/coaches.
“This report highlights the importance
of stakeholders across all sectors working
together to understand and manage the
risk better.”
Rules change for EU drivers in UK
The Government has revealed the new
rules for non-UK drivers coming to these
shores and driving.
If the drivers have a non-UK licence
they can still drive in the UK, and do not
need an international driving permit
(IDP).
If the vehicle’s insurance was issued in
the EU, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein,
Norway, Serbia or Switzerland, the driver
should carry an insurance green card or
other valid proof of insurance, however.
To be valid, other proof of insurance
must be a document issued by the
vehicle insurance provider which
includes the:
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• name of the insurance provider
• number plate or other identifying
particulars of the vehicle
• period of insurance cover
Contact your vehicle insurance provider
before you travel.
If the vehicle is insured in a country
outside the EU, Andorra, Iceland,
Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or
Switzerland, what you’ll need to do will
depend on if your country is a member of
the green card system.
If your country is a member, you will
need to carry a green card.
If your country is not a member, your
vehicle will need UK vehicle insurance.
Jellylearn links
up with EFA
The DVSA’s tech partner for
developing the theory test, Jellylearn,
has signed up to become an Affiliate
member of the European Driving
Instructors Association, EFA.
A spokesman for the company said:
“We are proud and excited to be
joining the EFA as an Affiliate member.
I am confident that by combining our
skills, expertise and knowledge we
can put a very strong proposition to
the EU as to what the benefits to
road safety would be of introducing
Hazard Perception (HP) testing as
part of its driver licensing system.”
NEWSLINK n JANUARY 2021