08-08-2013

Following the news that one in four serious road accidents on the highways of the UK involve ‘at-work’ drivers, small businesses have been urged to sign up for this year’s National Road Safety Week, which is due to be held between 18-24 November.

The event, held annually, is the UK’s biggest road safety awareness event, during which the thousands of schools, communities and businesses that take part are provided with invaluable assistance in working to improve their road safety practices.

This year will be the 17th running of the event, coordinated by the organisation Brake, which aims to provide employers with the means to implement and run their own road safety workshops to increase the awareness of their own employees and the risks associated with running single or multiple vehicles.

Increasing in its importance with the emergence of mobile technology is maintaining awareness behind the wheel. This year Brake aim to put particular emphasis on this aspect of road safety and the possible consequences of distractions while driving.

According to the latest statistics, 63 people are injured and five people die every day on the roads of the UK. An increasing proportion of these accidents are caused, at least in part, by drivers who are distracted by their mobile phones.

Julie Townsend, deputy chief executive of Brake, said: “At-work drivers are involved in a disproportionate number of road crashes, many of which are serious. Not only do these crashes cause terrible suffering and in some circumstances loss of life, they also hit businesses hard financially, with insurance premiums increasing with each and every claim”.