In conjunction with a desire for better Vehicle Safety conditions - The THINK! Driving for Work campaign was launched to remind people who drive vans for work to take more care while driving.
It is estimated that around 200 road deaths and serious injuries each week involve someone at work. That means an estimated one third of all crashes involves somebody who was at work at the time - that’s a tragic waste of about 1,000 lives every year.
In the last 10 years, the number of vans in the UK has increased by around one third and van traffic by 40%. There are now three million vans on Britain's roads, and the annual volume of new registrations is around 320,000. The home delivery sector in particular has seen phenomenal growth recently due to internet shopping demands. New van drivers are being recruited to accommodate this growth - for many of these driving for work is a secondary requirement to their core task.
The initial phase of the Driving for Work campaign will primarily focus on informing people who drive vans for work of the potential hazards of work related driving, focusing on the primary hazards of:
- speed (due to time pressure);
- distractions (mobile phones, drinking, reading maps); and
- journey planning (fatigue).
The overarching message that supports the campaign is:
‘Around 200 road deaths and serious injuries each week involve someone at work. THINK!’
Target Audience
Male van drivers primarily aged 17-39, who drive as part of their work.
Driving for Work - Employers
As an employer, manager or supervisor you have a legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of all employees while they are at work. Health and safety law applies to on-the-road work activities as it does to all work activities.
All Information provided by The Think! Road Safety Website. For more Road Safety Information including printed literature please visit:
VISIT think.direct.gov.uk
