Work-related Road Safety Research Articles

Driving for Work Crashes: A Systems Analysis

Work-related road safety is a government priority. A Safe System analysis of 300 driving for work (DFW) crashes was carried out, along with an exploratory socio-technical analysis of one significant case to better understand the context around DFW crashes. The Safe System analysis showed three distinct crash types: 1) multiple vehicle crashes often involving work vans, utes, and SUVs in side impact crashes; 2) vulnerable road users often involving professional drivers; and 3) single vehicle crashes involving people driving vans or light trucks for work losing control on rural roads with fatigue, non-seat belt use, and speed often implicated. There was a range of unique characteristics of DFW crashes, in particular, injuries to others who were implicated in DFW crashes but not those DFW themselves. Socio-technical systems analyses show promise for understanding the context around DFW crashes, but arrangements for better data access, coordination, and use are needed.

Work-related road safety: The impact of the low noise levels produced by electric vehicles according to experienced drivers

The introduction of electric vehicles in urban areas contributes to the reduction of air and noise pollution in these environments. However, the low noise levels produced by these vehicles, previously seen as an advantage, could pose a new risk to the safety of road users. The real magnitude of this issue is, however, controversial. The present study analyses the perception of experienced electric and hybrid vehicle drivers in work situations, something which had not been studied to date. A total of 95 electric car and motorcycle drivers from different public companies in the city of Málaga, Spain, participated in the study. These drivers described risk situations with pedestrians at low speeds, especially in shared streets. They estimated that the risk caused by the low noise levels of these vehicles is “medium”. To compensate, many drivers stated that they are more alert while driving an electric vehicle. Additionally, the drivers suggested that equipping these vehicles with continuous external sound was not the most appropriate solution. In the scientific community there is no consensus on the best way to resolve this. Nevertheless, electric vehicles are now required to incorporate additional sound in the European Union and USA. This does not mean that this is a more effective solution. More research on this issue is thus needed, such as studying other non-acoustic solutions or analysing how other road users perceive the risk.

The effectiveness of defensive driving

• Cite worldwide research & statistics on motor vehicle collisions (number of deaths, injuries and primary cause of road incidences). • Explain the concepts of defensive driving (which was pioneered and developed by the National Safety Council in 1964) • Discuss distracted driving (e.g., use of cell phones or texting while driving) which has joined speeding and alcohol as one of the 3 leading factors in fatal and serious injury crashes • Benefits of managing work-related road safety and the need to promote safe driving practices and a positive safety culture at work. • Explain why the adoption and enforcement of traffic laws appears inadequate in many countries (subtopics include excessive speed, seat-belt use, drinking and driving, use of motorcycle helmets, and use of child restraints in a vehicle).

Work-related road safety: Case study of British Telecommunications (BT)

Safety is a key issue for transport policy globally. Work-related travel has a significant impact on both road and occupational safety. Implementing a long term, sustainable work-related road safety program is a complex process requiring careful management decision making. Despite an increasing interest in research, policy and practice, there remain few published studies of organisations that have effectively managed their travel risks. The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate the outcomes of a driver risk assessment, monitoring and improvement program undertaken by British Telecommunications throughout its UK operations. The material presented is based on a detailed case study of the policies, procedures and performance monitoring implemented to manage the road safety risks of approximately 95,000 workers over more than 10 years. From a review of processes and outcomes, a good practice data-led systems-based approach is identified, focusing on occupational health and safety principles, the Haddon Matrix, risk assessment and evaluation. The case, which has seen a halving of the company׳s collision rate and costs, provides access to large insurance claims and other data sets over a long term period. A number of potential lessons for researchers, policy makers and practitioners are identified relating to issues such as data, management, tools, frameworks and further opportunities to focus on improving both road and worker safety.

Work-related road safety: A case study of Roche Australia

Fleet, work-related or occupational road safety has the potential to make a major contribution to reducing both human harm and asset damage. To date, however, there would appear to be a dearth of well researched and evaluated case studies in the public domain in this area. This paper provides an on-going, documented, real-world case study of work-related road safety within an Australian company that has sought to manage, monitor and improve its road safety performance over the last 5 years through a range of proactive, fleet manager, insurance and risk-led initiatives. Roche Australia has successfully implemented a Company Motor Vehicle Safety Program with support from its fleet insurers and risk management advisors. Four key initiatives are set out covering: (1) Driver risk assessment, monitoring and improvement. (2) Policy development and communications. (3) Process and outcomes evaluation. (4) Continuous review and refinement of policies, processes, programs and future developments. The program has led to a range of process and performance-based outcomes. Typical barriers to success in work-related road safety have been identified and overcome. Almost 100% risk assessment and improvement process compliance by drivers has been achieved. A predictive relationship between risk assessment outcomes and collision history has been identified. Reductions in insurance claims, collision costs and claims ratio have been sustained. A detailed project plan is in place to continue the program for the next 3 years. The paper concludes that with effective management, a well developed work-related road safety program can result in performance improvements within the initiating organisation. Several limitations in the case study methodology, as well as areas for further work and lessons for policy makers, researchers and practitioners are also identified.

Commuting road traffic accidents in Croatia

The aim of the study was to investigate risk factors associated with commuting road traffic accidents (RTA) in Croatia. A total of 1138 persons hospitalised for various accidents were surveyed...

Work related road safety

The community midwife's role requires travel from woman to woman to fulfil her duties. Concerns over the high rate of accidents involving people using their vehicles for work has resulted in a concerted effort by the police and health and safety executive to improve work related road safety (The Work-related Road Safety Task Group, 2001).

Ensuring work-related road safety

Travelling in the course of work is often a requirement for NHS staff. The mode of travel is largely by car, and concerns about the high rate of accidents involving people using vehicles for work has resulted in a concerted effort by the police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to improve work-related road safety (The Work-Related Road Safety Task Group, 2001).

Evaluation of a fleet safety management information system

AbstractDespite recent interest in work related road safety, relatively little research has been conducted to examine the effects of institutional factors on fleet safety. This paper conceptualized an evaluation framework and utilized it to assess fleet coordinators' attitudes toward and the usage of a fleet safety management system. First, focus group interviews revealed that monitoring fleet safety was not considered an important task within the government agencies participating in the research. Second, similar results were obtained in a survey of the fleet coordinators, which showed that most fleet coordinators were not utilising the full diagnostic capabilities of the management information system. In particular, fleet coordinators reported significantly higher competence, usage and importance on the coordination of fleet vehicle efficiency than on the coordination of fleet safety. These results were supported by the finding that fleet coordinators were required to report more on fleet efficiency than on fleet safety.

Role of the law in ensuring work related road safety

Some 150 deaths and serious injuries are caused each week by people who were driving in the course of their work. The police, health and safety executive and government are seeking to improve this startling statistic by ensuring that organizations, including NHS Trusts, comply with health and safety law and fulfil their duty to carry out an assessment of risks associated with work related driving and implement a policy to minimize those risks. Failing to comply could result in prosecution by the police and health and safety executive.

Work-related road safety

This commentary considers work-related road safety and strategies that can be used to reduce work-related traffic accidents, which account for between 25% and 33% of all serious and fatal road accidents. The author first reports some of the statistics found by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), the Dykes Report of 2001 about the high risks faced by people on the road for work purposes, and studies from the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). The author then considers ways that employers could take work-related road safety more seriously, including vehicle selection, scheduling, training courses, and the use of information from the organizations in the Occupational Road Safety Alliance. The author concludes by calling for additional government resources to tackle this problem of work-related road safety.