Part 5
Road risks and driving for work
Driving for work is one of the deadliest routine tasks. In the UK, nearly one in three road deaths involves a driving-for-work accident. Tens of thousands of workers suffer lost-time injuries each year. Lone and mobile workers (truck, delivery, taxi/ride-hail, sales/service, utilities, emergency response) are heavily exposed, with fatigue, distraction, poor weather/infrastructure, and vehicle condition as recurring factors.
Example cases:
M1 minibus crash
Two HGVs and a minibus collided on the M1, killing eight people. One lorry driver was later convicted of eight counts of causing death by dangerous driving. The case highlighted fatigue/distraction risks on long-haul routes and the catastrophic consequences for those driving for work.
Phone distraction
A 32-tonne lorry driver scrolling his smartphone ploughed into slowing traffic, killing a woman and three children. He was jailed for 10 years.
Defective brakes/overload
Brake failures on a steep hill caused 4 deaths; owner and mechanic jailed for manslaughter. This underscores the legal duty to keep vehicles roadworthy and prevent overloading.
Mitigation strategies:
Plan the journey, not just the destination: Apply a “safe driver, safe vehicle, safe journey” risk assessment for every driving task (route, timing, weather, traffic, comms, rest stops).
Manage fatigue like a critical risk: Enforce Hours-of-Service/tachograph rules; schedule rest (breaks at least every 2 hours), avoid 02:00–06:00 runs where possible; deploy fatigue risk management (training, monitoring, no-blame stop-work).
Zero tolerance for distraction: Ban texting/handheld use; discourage “business” calls while driving (even hands-free); use tech/app locks and policy enforcement.
Weather and infrastructure controls: Define go/no-go triggers (snow squalls, flooding, high winds); adapt speed, spacing, and routes; brief on roadworks and poor-shoulder stretches; allow schedule slack.
Vehicle safety & maintenance: Daily defect checks; prompt repairs; verify loads and securement. Fit/enable AEB, FCW, LDW/LKA, ESC, blind-spot systems and seat-belt interlocks; track risky events via telematics for coaching.
Protect lone drivers: Use lone-worker apps/devices with GPS, man-down/impact detection, timed check-ins, SOS linked to a 24/7 response centre; mandate check-in/out protocols and carry emergency kits.
Emergency readiness & aftercare: Provide breakdown/crash procedures (scene safety, triangles, comms tree); enable auto-alerts from telematics after severe impacts; investigate every incident/near-miss and offer post-crash psychological support.
Build competence and culture: Defensive-driving training, induction/refresher talks, and clear accountability; use data (CDC/NIOSH, HSE, EU) to target interventions for high-risk groups and routes.
