Member Article

Drivers must not be 'driven to distraction'

A North East based vehicle tracking management company is stressing the importance companies must place on work-related road safety for its employees. Euro-Tracker VIS Limited is urging employers across the region to help reduce deaths and injuries on the region’s roads through tighter restrictions on the use of in-vehicle mobile devices and effective fleet management.

The company highlights that the biggest distraction for the region’s drivers are mobile handheld devices which have become an integral part of daily working life for employed drivers of vehicles of all sizes. Euro-Tracker say research shows that company car and van drivers have accident rates 35 to 50 per cent higher than private drivers because of the distraction of mobile telephone conversations, the use of data devices, the high mileages they cover and the pressures they face to meet deadlines when out on the road.

Michael Largue, Euro-Tracker director, said: “Managing occupational road risk is the biggest professional safety problem for company owners and managers which the region is facing, and fleet bosses have to do something about it. “We believe fleet managers should inhibit functions that are too difficult for their employees to perform, or are unnecessary while driving to encourage workers to focus on the primary task of driving whilst effectively carrying out their daily tasks. “The bottom line is that by managing occupational road risk they are protecting their number one asset – their employees. “And that has to be good news for everyone who uses our roads, as poorly managed occupational drivers are not only a threat to themselves, but others on the road around them.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .