Figures from road transport industry telematics experts, Geolab, show that in 2023 the number of miles travelled by trucks before having a collision reduced by 180,000. For a major operator with a fleet of, say, 1000 HGVs, that’s an additional 20 collisions a year. It’s a doubly sobering stat when you consider that in the same year, 220 people were killed in crashes involving HGVs – up 6% year-on-year. A third of all accidents on UK roads involved someone driving for work.
According to ROSPA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents), human error is a factor in 95% of all road accidents. The top causes of collisions are an incorrect reaction to a situation, failure to look, distractions and inexperience.
In a well-timed move, the AA has recently prepared a report (yellow paper) on how fleets can make driver behaviour safer and more predictable. The AA report suggests that Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are the single most important way of preventing and mitigating serious injuries in crashes. However, the same report states that driver surveys reveal that a lot of drivers find features such as ‘lane assist’ annoying with 41% saying they turn them off!
So, what can be done to reduce the chilling statistic that someone is killed or seriously injured on UK roads every 16 minutes? The AA report recommends the implementation of risk management systems, embedding safety in an organisation through training and close attention to driver wellbeing.
On the latter point, a calm, healthy, well-rested driver is less likely to make poor decisions whilst out on the road. So, encouraging drivers to get the right amount of sleep, adopt a healthy diet and try to fit some exercise into their lives is a must. As is looking after their mental wellbeing – and that means regular conversations with them to make sure they’re ok.
Training can be incorporated into your annual round of Driver CPC training. Driver Hire Training’s menu of courses includes sessions on safe driving, risk awareness, city centre driving, the Highway Code and hazard awareness – all are available online. For operators looking for practical driver training and tailored programmes to reduce risk, Driver Hire Training offers a full suite of Fleet Training services.
“Despite the onward march of technology, improving safety on our roads, is still led by drivers,” says John Keelan-Edwards, Director of Driver Hire Risk Management. “It’s clear that human beings play a huge role in whether a crash happens – or doesn’t. Ongoing regular training wrapped up with meeting your Driver CPC requirements is a good way of reducing the current 30,000 accidents that occur annually on our roads.”