Occupational road risk a "hidden killer"

Date: 3/3/2011

Occupational driving has been identified as a "hidden killer" on the UK's roads, by one group.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is marking the 15th anniversary of its discussion paper that estimated that up to one-quarter of incidents on the roads every year involved vehicles being driven in the line of work.

It has since revised its approximation to one-third.

Using this figure, the organisation claims that more than two people per day may have been killed as a result of employment-related accidents on the roads during 2009.

Roger Bibbings, RoSPA's Occupational Safety Adviser and Author of the 1996 discussion paper, said: "We urge businesses and organisations to make 2011 the year in which they commit to regularly reviewing and improving their road safety arrangements."

As part of the group's Management of Occupational Road Risk campaign, it runs a number of courses for employers, aimed at further training drivers.

Posted by Sarah Bailey