TRANSPORT ROADSHOW A RUNAWAY SUCCESS
TTCs Colin Pettener with David Collings of Vosa at the roadshow in Cardiff
A UK transport roadshow aimed at educating thousands of the country’s professional drivers about drink and drug driving in a bid to reduce deaths and injuries on the roads has been a “runaway” success.
The 14 month nationwide education programme for more than 4,000 freight owners and managers of coach, bus and lorry operations has made an “important” contribution to road safety, said Graham Wynn OBE, director of the TTC Group.
The driver training specialists volunteered to sponsor the scheme when they were called in by the UK Traffic Commission to train operators in a series of sessions held from Scotland down to the Isle of Wight.
Starting 14 months ago in Wakefield, the marathon programme toured many of the UKs major towns and cities before holding its final seminar in Watford.
TTC Road Safety Manager Colin Pettener MBE said that national operators had welcomed the training sessions saying they had been of great benefit to their organisations.
“There was a lot of interest about our message on drink and drug driving. We also discovered that many firms did not have an alcohol or drugs policy for the workplace.
“Operators wanted details on how they set up a policy in their business which is something that we are providing for them.
“It has been a major event to stage and it was well received wherever we were with good turnouts and an audience which benefited from the information,” he added.
During the seminars vehicle operators heard about the dangers of the “morning after” when many drivers are caught unaware they are over the drink drive limit from the night before.
Interactive displays included a demonstration in which wine poured from a half pint beer glass did not overfill an every day wine glass. A film of an LGV driver speeding past a school was also shown. And operators heard about the dangers of taking over the counter medication which can lead to accidents on the road.
A spokesman for the Vehicle Operators Service Agency (VOSA), said: “Drink driving is seen as a very important issue by both the Traffic Commissioners and the operators.”
For more information about writing a drugs and alcohol workplace policy or about corporate driving courses contact the TTC Group, of Hadley Park, Telford, Shropshire, on 0845 270 4380 or visit www.ttc-uk.com
