Safe driving fleets back at-work driving vocational qualifications
Government proposals to introduce vocational driving qualifications for at-work drivers have been unanimously backed by some of Britain’s most safety-focused fleets.
A total of 86% of the ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign ‘business champion’ fleets responding to a survey by RoadSafe said they would support NVQ-style qualifications for drivers.
And, while the Department for Transport in its ‘far-reaching ‘Learning to Drive’ consultation document specifically suggested that vocational driving qualifications should be taken by van drivers, around two-thirds of the ‘business champion’ fleets were virtually unanimous in their view that they should apply to all at-work drivers.
The Department for Transport is currently considering the numerous responses to the consultation document, which promoted the concept that driving was a ‘skill for life’. The Department in partnership with the Driving Standards Agency wants to create a culture in which the driving test is a milestone towards lifelong learning.
As the Government’s current road safety strategy enters it last year of operation, the Department for Transport continues to develop the new 2011-2020 policy that aims to further reduce the number of road crashes and accident victims on the UK’s road network.
The ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign is managed by RoadSafe on behalf of the Government and three-quarters (76%) of respondents to the survey said that if an at-work driving vocational qualification was introduced it would influence their organisation’s recruitment strategy for jobs that involved driving.
But the survey found that although there are a number of advanced driving examinations available promoted by a number of organisations including the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Institute of Advanced Motoring, fewer than half (48%) of the ‘business champion’ fleets encouraged their at-work drivers to take such a course.
The survey also discovered that three-quarters (76%) of ‘business champion’ fleets that responded to the survey currently include driver training within their occupational road risk strategy.
However, there was less than enthusiastic support for company cars and vans to be fitted with speed limiter (intelligent speed adaptation/ devices. Only 43% of respondents thought such technology was a good idea to help at-work drivers keep to speed limits.
The ‘Driving for Better Business’ campaign uses its now almost 40 ‘business champions’ to promote the financial, legal and moral reasons for organisations across the public and private sectors to invest in at-work driving safety.
With an estimated up to 200 road deaths and serious injuries a week resulting from crashes involving at work drivers, and more employees killed and seriously injured on Britain’s roads while driving on behalf of their employer than in any other work-related activity, the campaign aims to cut the carnage.
Campaign director Caroline Scurr said: “We are delighted that our ‘business champion’ fleets support the concept of vocational qualifications for all at-work drivers.
“Whether driving company cars, vans or their own vehicles on business, employees who drive as part of their job undertake daily one of the most dangerous tasks they will ever be asked to complete in their working life.
“The Government recognises this and wants to develop a programme of higher and vocational qualifications. This is an initiative which has our 100% support.
“But clearly such qualifications take time to develop and launch. Therefore, in the interim it is hugely important that companies and organisations of all sizes and operating in all spheres of business and industry face up to their legal responsibilities now and don’t wait for the Government plans to reach fruition.
“Many organisations, such as the ‘business champion’ fleets are already focused on promoting the benefits of safe driving to their employees and reaping the benefits that include financial savings and improved business efficiency.”