Managing Occupational Road Risk

Employers’ have clear duties under Health and Safety law to manage occupational road risk in they same way that they manage other Health and Safety risks.

This means companies need to:

  • Designate a director to be responsible for managing occupational road risk
  • Communicate clear messages to their staff about their approach to road safety, through a series of policies
  • Set up systems and allocate duties to key members of staff
  • Carry out risk assessments of their procedures
  • Use these to check that they are doing all that is ‘reasonably practicable’ to avoid risk on the road and to ensure safe driving
  • Provide adequate driver training, and
  • Monitor and review performance

Companies need to ensure safe journey planning. The most obvious risk reduction measure is avoid the trip! (e.g. video conferencing) Next best is going by bus, train or plane. Is car sharing feasible?

Vehicles need to be fit-for-purpose and properly maintained with extra safety features where necessary – this does not mean the latest ‘gadgets’ that can distract drivers.

Managers should avoid systems of work which cause people to speed (for example, ‘just in time’ delivery, payment by number of calls made, early start – finish when work done, unrealistic guaranteed call-out or delivery times).

They need to avoid asking staff to drive while tired and at times of day when falling asleep at the wheel is more likely. They also need to consider employees’ sleep deprivation at home (looking after sick children etc) and avoid introducing driver distractions like using mobile phones while driving, even with ‘hands free’.

Managers need to consider potential health impairments, driver fitness issues and issues like alcohol / drugs which can affect employees ability to drive safely. Above all, Managers should set a good example!


Drivers and managers need always to plan the safest routes, avoiding congestion, crash sites and adverse weather. If a journey at the start of day is over, say, 100 miles - or two hours, consider travelling the night before.

Managers should be mindful of the effects of stress/fatigue on road safety arising from poor work/life balance.

Companies need to assess their drivers’ attitudes and driving competence, log their crash and penalty points histories and analyse and learn from their crashes and ‘near-misses’. Driver assessment could be used to target training at those with greatest needs.


Above all, organisations need to train their line managers, consult their safety reps, require their senior managers to lead by example and recognise, celebrate and reward safe driving achievement. A good approach is to set up a multi disciplinary team, with driver and safety rep involvement, to ask ‘where are we now?’ and to develop an action plan with clear targets.

The TTC Group can help you through this potential minefield with quality advice, policies and training. We can also advise on driver profiling – to help target training most effectively and Telematics – to increase efficiency. Contact us for further information.


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